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Browns fans can relax during the final week of the season, which is something they are not used to. Quarterback Jeff Driskel will be under center as Joe Flacco will get a week off to heal and prepare for the playoffs. An 11-5 record and No. 5 seed for the playoffs are proof of a surreal season for a team that is now starting their fifth different quarterback.
All four previous guys who held down the position started multiple games, with Flacco taking the reins and propelling the orange and brown toward the postseason. Quarterback Jeff Driskel was a recent addition to the practice squad, and will provide a little stability for that unit.
Another New Face Will Be Under Center in Quarterback Jeff Driskel
Quarterback Jeff Driskel’s Background
Driskel did not have a smooth college experience like most quarterbacks in the NFL have had. He played four years at Florida, playing in a full amount of games just once. His freshman year he played in five games and had just 16 completions. Sophomore year he had more opportunity but threw for just 12 touchdowns in 12 games, and only 1,646 passing yards.
After just three games in his junior year, he was able to remain with that class and spent his fourth season as a junior on the Gators. Driskel’s last season with the Gators was similar to how the other seasons went: not great. Driskel featured in nine games and had more interceptions (10) than passing touchdowns (9).
JEFF DRISKEL CAN MAKE ANY THROW
KEEP THIS KING ON THE FIELD pic.twitter.com/gbg9KmHbcS— JetPack Galileo (@JetPackGalileo) December 14, 2022
A move to Louisiana Tech in his final season as a college athlete was the best decision for him as it turned out. He played 13 games in his fifth collegiate year and easily crushed his previous career-high. Bulldogs quarterback Jeff Driskel threw 279 completions for 4,026 passing yards. He added 27 passing touchdowns and eight interceptions, with a quarterback rating of 154.1.
After his 2015 collegiate season, he did not see any time in the NFL until 2018. He spent a year with the Bengals where he started five games and played in nine, throwing six touchdowns and two interceptions. He endured brief stints in Denver and Detroit starting just four combined games, before landing in Houston for the past two seasons.
When talking about "arm talent", I often think about this throw from Jeff Driskel
54 yard bomb rolling right for a TD. Beautiful! But does this change anything about Driskel as a player? No
Most of QBing is simple 15-20 yard throws — if you can't make those, these don't matter pic.twitter.com/BxFBKd4MOr
— Robert Schmitz (@robertkschmitz) March 28, 2021
The 2022 season featured his most games since his time with the Bengals, and he played in seven games with two as a starter. He threw just one touchdown and has not seen action on the field since. Sunday will give him a fresh start with little expectations and pressure.
Looking Ahead to Postseason
Quarterback Jeff Driskel will get his 12th professional start with his fifth different team when he plays against the team he started his career with in Cincinnati. With the Bengals out of playoff contention and the Browns locked into their playoff seed, Driskel will manage the game that will feature a lot of backups.
Starter Joe Flacco will rest and remain healthy for a potential playoff run, and with another injury in the room this season occurring a few weeks ago, P.J. Walker will back up Driskel. For a game that is not much more important than a scrimmage, Driskel will have the opportunity to play again with minimal consequences for the team based on play.
More must-reads:
- Dolphins owner turns down multibillion-dollar offer for control of team
- Cowboys CB sends NFL warning with return of former interceptions leader
- The 'Most career passing touchdowns' quiz
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