If Jeff Driskel performs well in Sunday’s game against the Cincinnati Bengals, he may have the opportunity to remain with the Cleveland Browns for the postseason.
The outcome of the Week 18 game holds no significance for the Browns, as they have already secured the fifth seed in the postseason and are set to face the victor of the AFC South. However, it could impact their depth at the quarterback position.
Driskel, who joined the team in late December, has been chosen as the starting quarterback over PJ Walker. The decision may have been made with the intention to reduce the risk of injuries or to thoroughly evaluate Driskel as a possible backup to Joe Flacco in the playoffs.
Driskel expressed his belief that the upcoming game is not an audition for him. He explained that a player’s performance on the field ultimately determines their worth in the league. Driskel emphasized that his main focus is on winning the current game, as thinking too far ahead would be detrimental to the team.
Driskel will be taking the field without several crucial offensive starters, such as receivers Amari Cooper and Elijah Moore.
The Browns made an announcement early in the week that Flacco would not play against the Bengals, but the team is confident in Driskel’s ability to fill in. One reason for their confidence is Driskel’s experience with the Arizona Cardinals system, where the Browns’ offensive coordinator, Drew Petzing, previously worked. On Wednesday, January 3, Stefanski stated that Jeff has a good understanding of the Arizona system and will be given the chance to demonstrate his capabilities, with P.J. Walker serving as the backup.
Driskel’s professional career spans across multiple teams, including the Bengals, Lions, Broncos, Texans, and currently the Cardinals. Out of the 23 games he has played, he started 11. Unfortunately, his record as a starter stands at 2 wins and 9 losses. Driskel has completed 216 out of 365 career passes, accumulating 2,228 yards and 14 touchdowns. Additionally, he has contributed 384 rushing yards and scored three times. In the 2022 season, he made two starts for the Texans before spending most of the year on the Cardinals’ practice squad.
The Browns have made several changes to their lineup of quarterbacks throughout the season. Driskel is set to become the Browns’ fifth starting QB this season. It is notable that Driskel, who is 30 years old, will be the first quarterback to start for both the Bengals and the Browns in the Battle of Ohio. Driskel expressed surprise at this statistic, stating that he had heard about it but didn’t really understand its significance.
Walker has played in three games this season, starting two of them and playing most of the third. While he managed to win two out of those three games, he had difficulty with turnovers. In those games, Walker threw five interceptions and only managed one touchdown. Additionally, he lost some fumbles. Due to his struggles, the Browns initially released Walker but eventually re-signed him to the practice squad. However, his position on the 53-man roster was restored after rookie Dorian Thompson-Robinson had a season-ending hip injury.
While Walker could have served as a reliable backup for Deshaun Watson, the Browns might be interested in a quarterback similar to Flacco to enhance their chances of a successful playoff journey.
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