Joe Flacco placed on injured reserve with neck injury
Joe Flacco may have played his last snap for the Denver Broncos.
Flacco suffered a herniated disk in his neck during last week’s game against the Indianapolis Colts, and reports indicated he would be out anywhere from four to six weeks. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Broncos are ending Flacco’s season by placing him on injured reserve.
Broncos are placing Joe Flacco on injured reserve, per source. Flacco’s season is over.
Brandon Allen starts Sunday vs. Cleveland, with Denver promoting QB Brett Rypien from practice squad to back up Allen.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) November 1, 2019
The outcome is not a surprise, as the Broncos are not in playoff contention and there are only eight games remaining in the regular season. They would obviously rather use a roster spot elsewhere and start developing their young quarterbacks rather than have Flacco return to play a few meaningless games at the end of the year.
While Flacco is signed through 2021, it would not be a surprise if the Broncos move on from him this offseason. He publicly bashed the team’s coaching staff following last week’s loss, and the offense has not looked good with him at the helm. Acquiring him looks like it will go down as the latest flub in a series of QB moves John Elway has made since Peyton Manning retired.