CLEVELAND — With the Cleveland Browns' return to the playoffs just days away, questions remained about who would backup starting QB Joe Flacco as the team made the trip down to Houston for Saturday's Wild Card weekend contest against the Texans.
Offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt put those questions to bed on Wednesday afternoon announcing Jeff Driskel as Flacco's backup "going forward."
Driskel's ascent to QB2 is interesting with the presence of PJ Walker currently in the QB room. However, nobody can say that Walker instilled confidence in anyone with this play this year. In Walker's two starts and appearances in four other games, he's only managed a 48.6% completion percentage along with 5 interceptions and 4 fumbles (2 lost) compared to one touchdown.
Driskel was signed off of the Arizona Cardinals' practice squad less than two weeks ago, on December 29, before starting the Browns' final regular season game against the Bengals. He appeared in seven games, including two starts, for the Houston Texans in 2022 before signing with the Cardinals in free agency for the 2023 season.
Driskel struggled to get the offense going in his lone appearance for the Browns in Week 18. Two 4th quarter touchdowns to WR David Bell propped up an otherwise forgettable stat line that saw him throw for 166 yards with 2 interceptions and a 50% completion percentage.
Driskel became the Browns' fifth quarterback to make a start for the team in the 2023 regular season in Week 18.