LOS ANGELES — Browns receiver Amari Cooper long ago established himself as a player willing to play in pain, and it will be no different on Sunday when he takes the field against the Rams.
Cooper left Sunday’s 29-12 loss to the Broncos with 8:28 left after taking a hard blow to the ribs from safety P.J. Locke after a short incompletion to the left from P.J. Walker. Fortunately for him and the Browns, X-rays were negative, but Cooper was still in tremendous pain.
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The Cleveland Browns are again in quarterback limbo. The only difference this time is they have a more suitable — if not sustainable — backup plan.
Paging Joe Flacco.
With rookie starter Dorian Thompson-Robinson in concussion protocol after taking a brutal hit in Sunday’s loss at Denver, the Browns may make yet another switch and put their season — and playoff hopes — in Flacco’s capable hands.
Cleveland signed the 2013 Super Bowl MVP last week as protection in case Thompson-Robinson either flopped or got hurt.
And, wouldn’t you know it?
In a season full of bumps and bruises for the Browns (7-4), Thompson-Robinson was knocked out of his third career start when Broncos linebacker Baron Browning levelled him with a high hit in third quarter of Cleveland’s 29-12 loss Sunday.
Coach Kevin Stefanski offered no clues Monday about his QB plans heading into this week’s game against the Los Angeles Rams, but it appears his best option is to see what the 38-year-old Flacco has left.
At this point, the Browns have nothing to lose.
“We’ll see where it goes, where this week goes based on, obviously, Dorian’s health,” Stefanski said on a Zoom call from Los Angeles, where Cleveland will spend the week practicing and healing up after a mile-high mauling.
The Browns have been rotating quarterbacks all season, first when Deshaun Watson sprained his shoulder, when he came back and then again when their franchise QB (at least he’s being paid like one) suffered a season-ending fracture and had surgery.
Watson made six starts, Thompson-Robinson three and P.J. Walker two. Flacco would make it four different starters in 12 games, which seems almost preposterous for a team currently holding an AFC wild-card spot.
But the Browns are in the hunt and Flacco at least gives them some hope.
It’s not that Thompson-Robinson was awful against the Broncos, he actually got better as the game went on and seemed to be gaining confidence. But Flacco has big-game experience, championship pedigree and a powerful right arm that can help Cleveland’s offense stretch the field with chunk passing plays.