Browns to rest Joe Flacco, start QB Jeff Driskel at Cincinnati

Field Level Media|published: Wed 3rd January, 13:41 2024

Arizona Cardinals quarterback Jeff Driskel (19) during organized team activities at Dignity Health Arizona Cardinals Training Center. credits: Rob Schumacher/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK

Cleveland quarterback Joe Flacco has gone from resting on his couch to resting up for the playoffs.

Browns coach Kevin Stefanski confirmed that backup Jeff Driskel will start on Sunday at Cincinnati.

Driskel was signed off the Arizona Cardinals' practice squad last week. Cardinals offensive coordinator Drew Petzing was on Stefanski's staff in Cleveland from 2020-22.

"Jeff's a guy with a system knowledge from Arizona, (which) is helpful," Stefanski said Wednesday.

The Browns (11-5) are locked in as the AFC's No. 5 seed entering Week 18 against the Bengals (8-8), who have been eliminated.

Driskel, 30, has not appeared in a game this season. He is 1-9 as an NFL starter with the Bengals (2018), Detroit Lions (2019), Denver Broncos (2020) and Houston Texans (2021-22).

The journeyman has completed 59.2 percent of his passes for 2,228 yards with 14 touchdowns and eight interceptions.

With a win on Sunday, Driskel would become the fifth quarterback to win at least one start this season for the Browns: Deshaun Watson (5-1 record as the starter), Flacco (4-1), P.J. Walker (1-1) and Dorian Thompson-Robinson (1-2).

—Field Level Media