Joe Flacco has another week to get 'a little bit more comfortable' as Browns quarterback

BEREA — Joe Flacco's first start for the Browns has been met, for the most part, with relatively positive reviews.

Nothing over the top, mind you. Still, almost all understood the context around the quarterback's performance in Sunday's 36-19 loss to the Los Angeles Rams.

Flacco, though, has heard from the critics. Specifically, his five children.

Their reaction to their dad's performance?

"Not good," Flacco said Thursday. "I think they had a good time, but they just dwell on all the bad stuff. So it's another test that I have to just get over mentally in dealing with those guys."

Flacco's almost assuredly going to get another opportunity to impress his kids this Sunday when the Browns (7-5) play host to the AFC South-leading Jacksonville Jaguars (8-4). Although the official announcement has yet to come from the team, Dorian Thompson-Robinson remained in the concussion protocol as of Thursday.

As long as Thompson-Robinson is in the protocol, regardless of the fact he's returned to practice this week, it's Flacco's job. He was the only quarterback throwing to the receivers and tight ends expected to play this week during individual drills in the portion of Thursday's practice open to the media.

Flacco's already the fourth quarterback to start for the Browns this season. If he starts and wins on Sunday in a stadium in which he went 9-2 as the opposing starter, it would be the first time the Browns have ever had four starting quarterbacks each win a game in one season.

Flacco nearly became that last Sunday against the Rams. He most certain won over those with whom he shares a locker room.

“He's a good guy, is easy to talk to, all that stuff," All-Pro left guard Joel Bitonio said. "So you see him, you play against him so many years. He plays for Baltimore, he's been around the league, and you get to meet him and you don't really truly know a guy until you're in the locker with him.”

Every day that Flacco is getting work with the first unit, though, is another day for the 38-year-old to get a little more comfortable in his surroundings. There's been a steady progression for him to go through ever since he signed with the Browns practice squad on Nov. 20.

The first week, which led into the Browns' loss at the Denver Broncos, Flacco was mostly left to learn by observation, including from the sidelines during the game. He wasn't even on the active roster for the game, which left the Browns with just one healthy quarterback for the final quarter after Thompson-Robinson was knocked out of the game.

Flacco, though, ramped up throughout the week the Browns spent in Los Angeles. That culminated in the performance against the Rams, when he completed 23 of 44 passes for 254 yards and two touchdowns with one interception.

This week, it's been more of the same in Flacco's eyes. It's not really about getting acclimated as much as getting accelerated to what his various receivers and other teammates need.

"I think I had that first week that I was here where I wasn't active at all to kind of break myself in," Flacco said. "So every week kind of gets you a little bit more comfortable, but I don't really think it's necessarily the process. I think it's just kind of now getting with the individual guys and getting the feel for the little details more so than the big picture plan."

That was one aspect of Flacco's debut that stood out the most. The quarterback targeted nine different receivers during his debut, including six of them at least three times.

Elijah Moore' 12 targets led to a team-high 83 yards on four catches. However, backup tight end Harrison Bryant caught all five passes thrown his way for 49 yards and a score.

With No. 1 receiver Amari Cooper still in concussion protocol Thursday due to a second-quarter hit by the Rams, Flacco's ability to spread it around could help immensely.

"I think for me, ultimately when it gets to game day, I'm able to kind of put that stuff aside and just go play in rhythm and trust the fact that those guys are going to be in the spot they are and not stress about the fact that I haven't thrown to them for a ton of time," Flacco said. "The thing I've learned about these guys so far is that they put their head down and they work and they're a great receiving group in that way, just wanting to get extra throws. And then, when we are at practice, just committing to what we're doing and going out there and working hard at doing it."

It may just be enough to do something more difficult than winning an NFL game. That would be impressing Flacco's five kids.

Chris Easterling can be reached at ceasterling@thebeaconjournal.com. Read more about the Browns at www.beaconjournal.com/sports/browns. Follow him on Twitter at @ceasterlingABJ

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Joe Flacco has another week to get comfortable as Browns quarterback