CLEVELAND — Two years ago, the Cleveland Browns stood out from the crowd by making it to the playoffs after years of debilitating seasons, including going 0-16 one year. 

The surge to playoffs had a lot to deal with one player in particular: quarterback Joe Flacco, who signed back with the Browns on Friday, agreeing to a $4 million, one-year deal. 

ESPN's Adam Schefter reported the deal is worth up to $13 million in incentives.

Flacco captured Cleveland's heart in 2023, throwing for 13 touchdowns and eight interceptions in five starts that led to the Browns clinching a playoff spot. It was the same year the 40-year-old quarterback won the Comeback Player of the Year award.

Flacco had left the team in the offseason, signing with the Indianapolis Colts. 

The move to bring Flacco back to Cleveland comes a week after Browns owner Jimmy Haslam said he "took a big swing and miss" when the team got quarterback Deshaun Watson. 

The 29-year-old Watson has played in only 19 games since the Browns acquired him from the Houston Texans in 2022 and signed him to a five-year contract worth a fully guaranteed $230 million. Cleveland sent five draft picks to the Texans, including three first-round selections, to get the embattled quarterback.

Watson may miss the entire 2025 season after rupturing his right Achilles tendon for the second time in three months in January. He originally injured it during an Oct. 20, 2024, loss to the Cincinnati Bengals.

In 2022, Watson missed the first 11 games because of a league suspension. He made just six starts in 2023 before suffering a season-ending shoulder injury and started seven last year before the Achilles tendon injury.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.