The Cleveland Browns' season is now up in the air after the latest news on quarterback Deshaun Watson. After suffering a broken bone in his throwing shoulder, it was announced that Watson would miss the rest of this season.
Electing to undergo season-ending surgery to fix the issue, Watson will now have to watch from the sidelines.
#Browns QB Deshaun Watson wanted to be shot up and play through the injuries, and he sought multiple medical opinions, per sources. But doctors were clear: if he got hit again in the same spot, the shoulder could fall apart. Now surgery awaits and his 2023 season is over. pic.twitter.com/xULu52ZjVg
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) November 15, 2023
Now, the Browns officially turn back to P.J. Walker as their starting quarterback. Walker has made two starts this year for the Browns and has gone 1-1 in those games. He's thrown just one touchdown to five interceptions, proving the Browns might need another option if they are to make a postseason run.
With a few veteran names out there, the Browns have options: Nick Foles, Chase Daniel, and Will Grier to name a few. But, they should avoid these names.
1. Trace McSorley
The first of a few available quarterbacks might be attractive for the Browns, but Trace McSorley should not be an option. McSorley is only 27 years old, and he presents a sneaky dual-threat type for the Browns, which Watson also had, of course.
But, McSorley is not an NFL quarterback, to put it simply. He has started just one game in his career that began back in 2019 as a sixth-round pick and has also come in here and there due to injuries ahead of him.
For his career, McSorley has gone 48-for-93 for 502 yards, one touchdown and five interceptions. He would come on the cheap, but should not be an option for a team that still has the postseason on their mind.
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2. Joe Flacco
You might have thought this guy had retired, but the former Super Bowl champion has not done so just yet. The 38-year-old veteran quarterback is still waiting for a phone call, believe it or not. A couple of months ago, Flacco told ESPN that he wasn't going to call it quits just yet.
“Listen, I can still play. That’s me talking, obviously. I’m hoping that there’s the silver lining that I’m not anywhere right now and that I can be available to anybody. I’m not saying it’s going to be the truth, but if I was tied up with somebody as a backup and just didn’t play at all when all of a sudden three guys go down, well, I’d probably be in the back of my head be thinking, ‘Oh, man, would I have had an opportunity to go there?’”
Flacco last played for the New York Jets in 2022, when he started just four games and went 1-3. He finished that short season with the second-lowest quarterback rating of his career, too, at 75.2.
It would be an intriguing storyline for Flacco to come back to his old AFC North stomping grounds and potentially face the Ravens, along with a couple of other familiar division foes in Pittsburgh and Cincinnati. And, Flacco does have a ton of playoff experience under his belt. But, he is washed. His last few games in the NFL proved just that. The Browns should avoid him.
3. Matt Ryan
Longtime Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan is currently a commentator and analyst for CBS this year, while he takes a season off from playing the game. Like Flacco, though, Ryan has yet to call it quits. Instead, he planned on taking this year off and reigniting an NFL opportunity in 2024, if he gets a phone call.
“I’m staying in shape,” Ryan told The Athletic earlier in the year. “I think it is kind of, ‘You know my number. You know where I’m at.’ If anything were to come up, you know, we’ll see. (My broadcasting job with CBS) is where my focus is at right now. But we’ll see how the season shakes out.”
Ryan might be a better option than the aforementioned Flacco, but not by much. His age has caught up with him and he's no longer the prolific passer he once was, where a 4,000-yard season seemed effortless to him.
Maybe a couple of years ago, Ryan would have been a great option for a playoff contender to turn to in the wake of a serious injury. But, not at this point. I have a hard time believing he'll get a shot in 2024, when he turns 39.