Browns set for preseason finale with Flacco

The Browns confirm Joe Flacco as the likely starter and plan to test the offense in the final preseason game against the Rams.

Flacco set to play in Browns preseason finale

The Browns held Joe Flacco out of the first two preseason games this summer, signaling the veteran was the likeliest starter. On Monday coach Kevin Stefanski confirmed Flacco has been installed as the starter. Flacco said he plans to play the Rams in the preseason finale to work out a game plan and get the offense ready for the opener.

Cleveland opens the season at home against the Cincinnati Bengals, with Week 2 heading to Baltimore where Flacco spent 11 seasons. Few predicted he would start on opening day in 2025 after leaving the Ravens in 2018, but that is where he finds himself. The Browns are seeking clarity on the offense and see a live tune up as a path to building rhythm before Week 1.

Installing Flacco as the starter signals a preference for stability over ongoing quarterback competition. The move leans on his experience to steady a retooled offense as the team pursues consistency in a pivotal season. The final preseason game becomes a practical test of how the offense operates under real game conditions and whether the planned approach can translate to the opener.

The stance may speed up alignment between coaching and players, but it also concentrates risk on a veteran in a new system. The decision invites scrutiny of how the team balances depth, development, and results while the league watches how well the offense adapts to Flacco’s leadership and a growing group of weapons.

Highlights

The coming weeks will reveal how much the preseason plan translates to regular-season performance.