Joe Flacco Expected To Miss 4-6 Weeks, Shouldn’t Need Surgery

According to Adam Schefter, Broncos QB Joe Flacco is expected to be sidelined four to six weeks from the bulging disc in his neck. 

Pending further review, Schefter adds Flacco is not expected to need surgery to correct the issue. Tom Pelissero says injured reserve is a strong possibility for Flacco depending on what Denver decides to do with its young quarterbacks.

In the meantime, QB Brandon Allen will start for the Broncos, with second-round rookie QB Drew Lock potentially a factor when or if he comes off injured reserve. 

Flacco, 34, is a former first-round pick of the Ravens back in 2008. The Broncos agreed to trade a 2019 fourth-round pick to the Ravens for Flacco this past March. 

Flacco is currently in the third year of a six-year, $125 million contract that contained $44 million guaranteed and set to make base salaries of $18.5 million (2019), $20.25 (2020) million, $24.25 million (2021) over the remainder of the contract.

In 2019, Flacco has appeared in eight games and completed 65.3 percent of his passes for 1,822 yards to go along with six touchdowns and five interceptions for the Ravens. Pro Football Focus had him rated as the No. 21 quarterback out of 34 qualifying players.