The Denver Broncos have informed quarterback Joe Flacco that he is being released.
Flacco will become an unrestricted free agent. He had two years left on his contract with the Broncos and the team will save just over $10 million against the cap by releasing him.
Last year, Flacco was placed on injured reserve halfway through the season because of a herniated disk in his neck. He was 2-6 and threw for 1,822 yards with six touchdowns and five interceptions.
Drew Lock is expected to be the Broncos’ starter with Flacco gone. The Broncos have also agreed to terms with Jeff Driskel to compete to be the backup while they also have Brett Rypien under contract.
Flacco said at the end of last season that he hoped to play after being cleared following his injury.
“I’m probably a little bit more worried about other things at this point, but if [being a backup is] what it has to be, I want to play football,” said the Super Bowl-winning quarterback. If that’s what it has to be, whether it’s here or wherever, if that’s what it has to be for me to get back in and start playing again, then yeah, I’ll go that route.”
Flacco is 98-73 all-time with 40,067 passing yards, 218 touchdowns, 141 interceptions and a Super Bowl title in his career. He would be a good quarterback for any team that needs a reliable signal-caller, even if he would be a backup.
