With fast preseason start, Flacco embracing role
PHILADELPHIA >> Joe Flacco, the long-ago Super Bowl MVP, got plenty of attention when he made known that he was competing for the Eagles’ starting quarterback job.
That sentiment has since cooled, though Flacco proved Thursday that he still has fuel in the tank during the preseason opener against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Beyond better stats, Flacco looked more polished than starter Jalen Hurts, who got just 10 snaps.
While it might not be an open competition, Flacco has done his part to make himself relevant.
“I said from the very beginning that that’s kind of the way I’m approaching it just because I’m letting myself down if I don’t take it any other way but that,” Flacco said after practice Saturday. “But I think Jalen is doing a good job. And he’s
obviously taking all the reps with the ones. Jalen’s doing a good job moving forward in the right way.”
The Eagles are the fourth stop in a 14-year career for Flacco, the 36-year-old product of the University of Delaware. It never hurts to have a veteran in the quarterback room, particularly when the No. 1 guy has four career starts and just turned 23.
It’s finally beginning to dawn on Flacco, who after leading the Baltimore Ravens to a 98-77 record in 10 seasons and the Super Bowl XLVII title, that he’s been around the block.
“There’s definitely something cool about but you don’t think about it,” Flacco said. “I know I’ve been around for a while but you don’t really view yourself like that so when you do have these kids kind of come up to you and you realize that they’re kids, it’s definitely kind of eye-opening.”
Head coach Nick Sirianni and the young Eagles would be smart to lean on Flacco and veteran leaders like Brandon Graham, Jason Kelce, Brandon Brooks and Fletcher Cox when the New England Patriots arrive Monday for two days of joint practices.
The idea is to benefit from the work against the other team, not get caught watching, though that could be a learning tool, too.
“I’m sure those guys know how to practice,” Flacco said of the Patriots. “And going back to some of the young guys on our team, I think we’ve done a great job so far, but any time you get to see another team up close and personal that is wellcoached and therefore probably knows how to attack practices, it will be good for everybody to see that.”
The quarterback play should be very interesting, with Hurts and Flacco suiting up for the Eagles and Cam Newton and Mac Jones, the latter a first-round pick out of Alabama, airing it out for the Patriots.
Flacco will scrutinize the position, feeling reinvigorated after lighting it up replacing Hurts in the first quarter Thursday. Flacco made the 79-yard screen pass to Quez Watkins look easy as he caught the Steelers defense blitzing.
“It was awesome to get back out there and just get your feet wet and feel like we’re playing football again,” Flacco said. “A lot of good things, and a lot of things to correct. That’s typical of your first preseason game.”