Flacco will turn 39 on Jan. 16 and it is unknown if any NFL teams will come calling for him to be their starting quarterback or if he would be willing to return to the Browns. In the five games he started, Flacco was 123-of-204 for 1,616 yards with 13 touchdowns and 8 interceptions. His rating was 90.2.
“Obviously, as you guys saw, I mean, he’s talented,” Stefanski said. “He won football games for us. We had multiple guys that have won football games for us. So I believe in all these guys.”
In the playoff loss to the Texans, Flacco threw for 307 yards, his fifth-straight 300-yard game, but he also threw back-to-back interceptions that were returned for touchdowns and sealed the victory for the Texans.
There was little doubt that Watson would be the Browns quarterback in 2024.
The Browns traded six draft choices, including three, first-round and signed Watson to a five-year, $230 million fully-guaranteed contract.
“Yeah, I guess I would go back to there were some really good moments this season,” Stefanski said. “You know, it’s such a small sample size with Deshaun and you had a weather game in there. So, I think we all know what he’s capable of. We’re excited about the future.”
Watson started six games in 2023 for the Browns and was 5-1 as the starter, including the win over the Colts where Watson started, but left in the first quarter. He was 105-of-171 for 1,115 yards (61.4 pct.) with 7 touchdowns and 4 interceptions. His passer rating was 84.3 rating. He also had 26 rushes for 142 yards and a touchdown.
Watson started the first three games, then was hurt, tried to come back for a game, and then started two more games before being lost for the season. In his final game, he played the entire second half with a broken bone in his shoulder and finished 14-of-14 in leading the Browns to a come-from-behind win over the Ravens.
“I think again, it was three games and then was out with the injury and then finally back and then again went out,” Stefanski said. “So that was disappointing for Deshaun and he was disappointed that he wasn’t able to play more than that. But to lead his team, to play winning football in those games and to play the style that he played and the willing his team to victory there in that second half.”And then just different moments throughout this season, making plays that are hard to coach,” he said. “So I’m excited about him getting healthy and we’re excited about getting him back here.”
Stefanski still believes in Watson.
“Yeah, no doubt,” he said. “I mean, 4-1 as a starter. Some really great moments. That second half versus Baltimore is something that I don’t know how many people on Earth can do. What he did with the injuries that he had in that second half, so very excited for him. He’s excited. I know he wants to get back healthy and he’s well on his way to doing that.”
Watson was on the sideline before the playoff game with the Texans and Stefanski said that he is doing well in his recovery.
“He’s doing great in rehab,” Stefanski said. “I’m confident he’ll be ready to roll this spring. He’s chomping at the bit, but he’s doing everything he’s supposed to do when it comes to what the doctors are telling him and as he rehabs through this, but he’ll be ready to roll.”
Watson looked as though he was finding his rhythm when he threw for 289 yards and a 123.4 rating in a blowout win over the Titans, in the third game, but ended up injuring his shoulder and missed the next two games with a rotator cuff strain. His status was uncertain for several weeks after that.
Stefanski knows what Watson is capable of doing in the Browns system and has a ‘ton of confidence’ that he will return in 2024 as good as ever.
“I would just tell you, Deshaun’s been in this system,” Stefanski said. “He knows his teammates. He’ll rehab like he does. He’s attacking it already. So I just have a ton of confidence in him just based on the work he’s put in and what I’ve seen from him.
“Yeah, I guess I would go back to there were some really good moments this season,” he said. “You know, it’s such a small sample size with Deshaun and you had a weather game in there. So, I think we all know what he’s capable of. We’re excited about the future.”
