It's been a little while since Joe Flacco found himself in this spot.
The Cleveland Browns' quarterback is ending a personal drought on Sunday when he starts Week 1 against the Cincinnati Bengals.
It'll be Flacco's first Week 1 start since 2022.
Since then, it didn't necessarily look like Flacco would get back to such a moment again.
He spent most of 2023 on his couch before signing with the Browns late in the season and winning four of the last five regular season games to get into the playoffs.
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Flacco joined the Colts last season, but that was Anthony Richardson's team. It didn't stop Flacco from seeing a lot of action as the campaign moved along.
But that had to be it, right? Flacco is 40 now.
Here he is, starting again.
The Browns likely saw this coming from the moment they signed Flacco in free agency. Sure, they made efforts to get other quarterbacks.
They traded with the Eagles for Kenny Pickett (who has since been traded away to the Raiders). They drafted not one but two QBs, both Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders.
They even gave some training camp run to Tyler Huntley, who somehow has made a Pro Bowl even though Flacco never has.
In the end, this was Flacco's job to lose, and he didn't lose it.
The Browns may mix it up as the season goes along to give the rookies a chance to play. But in Week 1, it's all Flacco.
He could find himself in a sneaky shootout, too, with his strong arm a good match for the Bengals' weak defense. Cleveland will have to score to keep up with Joe Burrow, Ja'Marr Chase and company.
Flacco, even now, is capable of putting up some points.
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