Kevin Stefanksi Avoids Awkward Question About Joe Flacco’s Better Play With Bengals

When nan Browns decided to trade backmost Joe Flacco to nan Bengals, they initially faced questions astir their prime to nonstop him to a section opponent. Now, Browns caput coach Kevin Stefanski is facing questions astir why Flacco is seeing overmuch much occurrence pinch nan Bengals than he did connected nan Browns.

Over 4 starts pinch nan Browns this season, Flacco went 1-3 while completing 58.1% of his passes for 815 yards, 2 touchdowns, six interceptions and averaging 5.1 yards per effort earlier he was benched for Dillon Gabriel. Meanwhile crossed 4 stats pinch nan Bengals and their prima receiving core, Flacco has completed 64.7% of his passes for 1,254 yards, 11 touchdowns and 2 interceptions.

With Flacco throwing for 470 yards and 4 touchdowns while some Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins went complete 100 receiving yards this past week, a newsman asked Stefanski connected Monday, “I understand you person to take sides your ain roster, but erstwhile you spot what Joe Flacco’s doing down location successful Cincinnati—even if you’re not watching nan game—throwing touchdown passes each complete nan section to Chase and Higgins, what do you think? He couldn’t put those numbers up pinch nan receivers you person here.”

Stefanski said, “I don’t really person a remark connected Joe aliases immoderate players connected different teams. I don’t deliberation it’s appropriate.” When pressed further, Stefanski simply said, “I understand nan question, but I really don’t person a comment.”

Flacco’s importantly amended play successful Cincinnati is not a awesome look for nan Browns. Stefanski is not nan wide manager, but it’s difficult for a backmost to win erstwhile location is constricted receiving talent surrounding him. Outside of rookie tight extremity Harold Fannin Jr., who’s gotten disconnected to a beardown start, there’s been constricted threats for nan Browns passing attack, and nary 1 connected nan squad has recorded 100 receiving yards successful a crippled this season.

While nan Browns benched and past traded Flacco successful portion to get a amended look astatine their rookie backmost successful Gabriel, they mightiness not beryllium getting an meticulous look astatine him if Flacco is playing this overmuch amended pinch different receiving group. Whether nan Browns do instrumentality pinch Gabriel aliases prosecute different backmost adjacent offseason, they must prioritize improving nan receiver room.

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