The Indianapolis Colts and veteran quarterback Joe Flacco have reached settlement on a one-year deal value as much as $8.7 million, sources informed ESPN’s Adam Schefter on Wednesday.
Flacco, who performed for the Cleveland Browns final season and gained NFL Comeback Participant of the 12 months honors, will obtain $4.5 million assured within the deal, in accordance with sources.
In Indianapolis, Flacco will again up and mentor second-year quarterback Anthony Richardson. Flacco additionally will present some peace of thoughts for the Colts after Richardson missed 12 video games as a rookie following a season-ending shoulder damage and one sport earlier within the marketing campaign due to a concussion.
Flacco provides the Colts a dependable backup who will not take apply reps from a younger quarterback nonetheless in his developmental stage. He’ll additionally have the ability to mentor Richardson, who began only one full season at Florida and misplaced out on treasured alternatives to play throughout his rookie season.
With Gardner Minshew, final yr’s backup in Indy, signing with the Las Vegas Raiders this week, the Colts get a confirmed alternative in Flacco. Flacco’s arm power must also be a lift over Minshew, who typically was reluctant to throw the deep ball. That’s one thing Colts coach Shane Steichen admitted was lacking from the Colts’ offense final season. In Richardson and Flacco, the Colts now have two of the most important arms within the NFL.
Flacco signed with the Browns’ apply squad in November after a season-ending shoulder damage to beginning quarterback Deshaun Watson. Two weeks later, Flacco made his first begin. He went on to turn into the primary quarterback in NFL historical past to throw for over 250 yards and a number of touchdowns in his first 5 video games with a brand new group.
Flacco additionally propelled the Browns to a four-game profitable streak and the No. 5 seed within the AFC playoffs. He completed the common season with 1,616 yards passing, 13 touchdowns and eight interceptions in 5 video games.
Cleveland, nevertheless, fell within the first spherical of the postseason to the Houston Texans. Flacco threw pick-sixes on back-to-back possessions within the second half of the 45-14 defeat.
Flacco, 39, gained the Tremendous Bowl with the Baltimore Ravens in 2013 and was named Tremendous Bowl MVP. He has thrown for 43,936 yards and 245 touchdowns in a profession that additionally consists of time with the Denver Broncos and the New York Jets.
ESPN’s Jake Trotter and Stephen Holder contributed to this report.