Flacco: 'Special' to be Browns starting QB at age 40 - ESPN

BEREA, Ohio — Joe Flacco said Tuesday that it is «definitely special» to be named the Cleveland Browns' starting quarterback as he enters his 18th NFL season.

Flacco, who turned 40 in January, will join a short list of NFL passers who have started a game after their 40th birthday, including Tom Brady, Aaron Rodgers and Brett Favre. Cleveland announced on Monday that Flacco would open the season as the team's starting quarterback. He will become the 18th quarterback to start an NFL game after his 40th birthday.

«I don't know if I was very emotional about it,» Flacco said, «but listen, you don't take for granted opportunities in this league. Especially to get one at this point of my career is definitely special. But, like I said, it's pretty much business as usual and trying to get better.»

Flacco emerged as the winner of the Browns' quarterback competition after a slew of injuries paved the way for him to take the overwhelming majority of first-team reps in training camp.

Kenny Pickett was limited for multiple weeks by a hamstring injury. On Tuesday, he returned to 11-on-11 drills for the first time since suffering his injury July 26. Third-round pick Dillon Gabriel was held out of the first preseason game because of a hamstring injury. And fifth-round pick Shedeur Sanders has not received first-team reps; he was held out of the second preseason game because of an oblique injury. Sanders remained limited in practice Tuesday.

Stefanski on Tuesday said that Flacco «earned» the starting role, despite the litany of injuries that impacted the competition.

«Joe performed really well both in practice, in the joint practices, in the meeting room, you name it, in the walkthrough, just what he's able to bring to the football team.