The Cleveland Browns have named 40-year-old Joe Flacco their starting quarterback for the Sept. 7 season opener against the Cincinnati Bengals, head coach Kevin Stefanski confirmed Monday. The assignment will be Flacco’s first Week 1 start since 2022 and marks his second stint in Cleveland after earning the NFL’s Comeback Player of the Year award with the club in 2023. Flacco won a four-way competition over Kenny Pickett and rookies Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders, while Deshaun Watson is expected to miss the season because of injuries. Stefanski cited the veteran’s consistency in training camp and leadership in the locker room as decisive factors. The team is expected to carry four quarterbacks on its initial 53-man roster, according to league sources. Betting markets had anticipated the move: one bookmaker’s odds on Flacco opening the season under center shortened from +1200 in late April to –300 by Aug. 13. Cleveland’s over/under for victories remains one of the league’s lowest at 4.5, underscoring the stakes as the Browns seek to improve on last year’s 4-13 record behind their veteran signal-caller.