It turns out Jeff Driskel wanted a shot.
Much has been made about Cincinnati Bengals backup quarterback Jeff Driskel getting some run at wideout and on special teams this week leading up to the team’s preseason game on Thursday.
This stemmed from rookie Ryan Finely getting the run with the second team and Driskel himself going to the coaches and asking for a chance elsewhere, according to Geoff Hobson of Bengals.com:
With rookie Ryan Finley lighting it up in Saturday night’s pre-season opener with the 3s and getting the nod with the 2s Thursday in Washington (7:30 p.m.-Cincinnati’s Local 12), Driskel went to Taylor Monday and asked him to be open to using him where ever he thinks a fast, athletic 6-5, 232-pounder can help.
It is a fun note, if nothing else. Driskel is a competitor and wants to be out there one way or another. There always seemed to be a feeling he’d have a hard time making the final roster as the third quarterback after the new coaching staff traded up to get Finley.
This isn’t Driskel’s first run-in with new positions in the pros. He had a stint at wideout in practice under Marvin Lewis, though it resulted in a broken arm. Point being, though, coaches have seen the non-passing potential before.
Driskel himself seems to like the idea. If he’s making it as a special teams returner and utility guy who can also function as a third quarterback, the roster is strong for it on the basis of versatility alone.
