BEREA, Ohio — There is no question that Joe Flacco energized the Cleveland Browns passing game in the five regular season games that he played in for the Browns, especially the four-straight games that he threw for over 300 yards and led the Browns to wins and a playoff berth.

Flacco’s final game resulted in a lop-sided loss to the Texans in the first-round of the playoffs, where he threw back-to-back pick six interceptions to put the game out of reach in the third quarter. Flacco threw for 307 yards in the loss for the fifth-time in his six starts for the Browns that he threw for more than 300 yards.

After the loss to the Texans, most of the talk was about the disappointment of the playoff exit, but in Kevin Stefanski’s final press conference on Sunday to wrap up the 2023 season, a lot of the talk was on the future at quarterback

Most of it was about Deshaun Watson, who finished the season on injured reserve, recovering from surgery on Nov. 21 to repair a fractured glenoid bone in his shoulder.

Stefanski did not hesitate to name Watson as the Browns quarterback when the team begins preparation for the 2024 season.

However, he was asked if he would like to see Flacco return and back up Watson.

“I’d leave all those things up to obviously Andrew (Berry) in this offseason,” Stefanski said. “I will say this about Joe. Joe was awesome for this football team. He did a great job. Battled like crazy. I know he enjoyed it. We obviously, wish yesterday’s outcome was different, but I have a ton of respect for Joe and what he was able to do.”

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Flacco will be an unrestricted free agent in March and he has already said that he plans to continue to play. Stefanski said he had a ‘great’ exit meeting with Flacco.

“I think Joe is going to work through everything this offseason, as you can imagine, but had a great meeting with Joe – really, all these guys,” he said. “He’s grateful for the opportunity and he’ll work through this offseason, see where it lands.”

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.”