Browns' building apparently divided on who’s QB1 and QB2

Editor's note: Tony Grossi is a Cleveland Browns and NFL analyst for TheLandOnDemand.com and 850 ESPN Cleveland. He has covered the Browns since 1984.

Second thoughts on Lions 34, Browns 10 … 

1. For the second day in a row, Kevin Stefanski declined to say that Joe Flacco is the Browns’ starting quarterback going forward. To me, that means there is disagreement in the building about what to do next. Everyone knows that the Browns “collaborate” on a decision of this magnitude. GM Andrew Berry and perhaps even owner Jimmy Haslam weighs in on most every quarterback issue. So, do the Browns keep Flacco at the helm of the second-lowest scoring offense in the NFL? Do they make the switch to rookie Dillon Gabriel to see if he can energize the team with his mobility and “elite” processing speed? Do they call rookie Shedeur Sanders’ bluff and see if he’s “ready to play” better than some of the QBs in the NFL? Stefanski wouldn’t say. “I understand the question,” Stefanski said Monday. “We have to play better as an offense. We have to coach better on offense. It’s not about one person. There are so many things that we need to do better and, obviously, quarterback included. But this is not about one person.” I followed up by asking if Stefanski’s refusal to name Flacco the starter against the Vikings in London on Sunday means that a change is possible but he’s just not willing to address it at this time. “I just would tell you, I understand the question and I understand the scrutiny that comes with the position, but we have to play better as an offense,” he answered. “We have to do a better job at all positions, including coaching. That’s really what I want to get across.”

2. Stefanski’s not wrong, of course. The entire offense has contributed to its demise, with the exception, perhaps, of running back Quinshon Judkins and tight end Harold Fannin Jr. (OK, he had one egregious drop.) The eight turnovers (six interceptions, two lost fumbles) go on Flacco’s record, but injuries and inadequate play at both offensive tackle positions, bad route-running and dropped passes by receivers, and the inexplicable inefficiencies of veteran receiver Jerry Jeudy and tight end David Njoku have conspired to make Flacco the fall guy. It’s easier to change quarterbacks than demote starters across the board. Flacco has attempted the second-most passes in the NFL, thrown the second-most interceptions, is last among 32 starters in passer rating and has been hit more than any quarterback. So he’s an easy target. Plus, there’s the obvious argument to evaluate what the Browns have in their rookie quarterbacks. Haslam made that point in his annual training camp media availability.

3. The switch to Gabriel is inevitable. Some in the building may argue to keep Flacco on the job through the game in Pittsburgh, which is an intimidating venue for any rookie QB. The more interesting decision is whether the Browns would elevate Sanders to QB2 ahead of Flacco, or keep him as the emergency QB3. Sanders was lambasted by ESPN analyst Rex Ryan on Monday for saying last week that he was “capable of doing better” than other starting quarterbacks floundering with their teams. On ESPN’s “Get Up,” Ryan said, “This kid talks and he runs his mouth. Like he said, 'I can be a starting quarterback' with his arms crossed like this. Get you’re a** in the front row and study and do all that. If I know, the whole league knows. Quit being an embarrassment that way. You've got the talent to be the quarterback, you should be. You should be embarrassed that you're not the quarterback now.” Ryan’s comment of “if I know, the whole league knows,” suggests he has a source inside the Browns’ building telling him unflattering things about Sanders.

4. The Browns can’t hide their concern about the offensive tackle position. On Monday, they traded for tackle Cam Robinson, a nine-year veteran most recently with Houston. It’s the second year in a row Robinson was traded. Jacksonville, Robinson’s original team for eight seasons, traded him to the Vikings last October. Houston signed Robinson in March. The Texans gave up Robinson after one start in three games. The Browns swapped a sixth-round pick in 2027 for Houston’s seventh-round pick. Robinson was a second-round pick of the Jaguars in 2017 and twice received the franchise tag by the team. He has started at right and left tackle. Stefanski would not say where Robinson might line up. “Obviously, [Robinson] is a guy that we’re excited to bring in here,” the coach said. “We’ve had injuries at the position, as you know, so having guys that have started multiple games and played well is obviously an important part for us. And then just in terms of who plays where, it’s always based on the game where we are, comfort level of the players, etc.” The Browns lost starting left tackle Dawand Jones for the season to a knee injury. Right tackle Jack Conklin has missed the last three games with an elbow injury. Stefanski said, “For me, it’s really – the focus is on bringing Cam in here. Jack continues to get better every single day.” In the last two weeks, the Browns added veteran tackles Thayer Munford Jr. to their 53 roster and Joshua Miles and Tyre Phillips to their practice squad.

5. Deshaun Watson is eligible to come off the physically unable to perform (PUP) list, but his status remains the same. The Browns will have a decision to make on Watson’s status soon. Now that the fourth week of the season has passed, the Browns have a five-week window to clear Watson to return to practice. Once a PUP player is cleared to practice, the team has a three-week window to either activate him or keep him out the rest of the season. So, the Browns conceivably have through the 12^th week of the season to determine Watson’s status. “Deshaun’s doing a great job with his rehab, and that’s really where his focus is,” is all Stefanski would say about Watson.

6. To add Robinson to the 53, the Browns placed return specialist/wide receiver DeAndre Carter on injured reserve. He could return after four weeks. Who will replace Carter on punt returns? Wide receivers Gage Larvadain and Kaden Davis are candidates on the practice squad. Both had impressive training camps. Larvadain made the initial 53, then was waived and re-signed to the practice squad on September 13 when Judkins was activated to the 53. There’s an additional need for a receiver because Stefanski said Cedric Tillman will be out for “weeks” with a hamstring injury.

7. With Tillman and Carter down, what’s the state of the receiving corps? Embattled Jerry Jeudy remains WR1, despite repeated drops and an abysmal catch rate of 36.7% (13 receptions on 30 targets). “Jerry is a very prideful guy,” Stefanski said. “He’s one of our leaders. He wants to come through for the football team. He’s disappointed, but he’s our guy. He’s our best wide receiver. He’ll continue to make plays for this football team. I have zero doubt about that.” The likely replacement for Tillman as WR2 is Isaiah Bond, who came alive with a nice 35-yard reception in Detroit. After that? James Thrash could elevate to WR3 and my choice would be Larvadain at WR4. He catches everything and had success in preseason returning punts.