Tag: Jeff Driskel

Jeff Driskel believes Texans QB room has ‘really good dynamic’

Jeff Driskel told @JohnHCrumpler at the Davis Mills QB Challenge the Houston Texans QB room has decent cohesion.

2021 was a weird season for Jeff Driskel.

Driskel played five years of college football exclusively at the quarterback position. After being drafted in the 6th round of the 2016 NFL Draft, he’d played five full seasons as an NFL quarterback with nine starts to his name.

Halfway through his first year in Houston, however, head coach David Culley and the Texans coaching staff asked Driskel to play tight end. A position that he had essentially zero experience with at any high level of football.

It was a bizarre switch and not exactly one that made sense to anyone either inside or outside the building. Despite this turmoil and adversity, Driskel was resigned to the Texans in March and promptly moved back to the quarterback position.

He’s been using the summer to go to various football camps and joined his teammate and Houston starting quarterback Davis Mills for the Davis Mills quarterback challenge last weekend. Speaking with the Texans Wire, Driskel commented on the special chemistry of the Houston quarterback room.

“It’s been great, we’ve got a really good group. A lot of guys that have played a lot of football, guys that know what they’re doing. There’s a lot of give and take in the room and we’re all working to get the same thing done which is win games. It’s a really good dynamic and it’s a fun group to be around.”

The quarterback room in Houston aside from Mills and Driskel is led by offensive coordinator Pep Hamilton and also rosters quarterbacks Kyle Allen and Kevin Hogan. The group is considered to be a huge part of the supporting infrastructure that the Texans believe will elevate Davis Mills in 2022.

A year removed from what was a tumultuous season for everyone in Houston, Driskel is grateful to be a part of what the Texans are building and to return to the city for a second season.

“Year two has been great. Having the ability to not move your family around, getting to know your teammates, getting to know the staff, just getting to know the city as well has been great. It’s a great organization and we’re looking forward to a really great year and an opportunity to bounce back. An opportunity to win some games, get people back in the stands and back excited about the Texans again.”

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Former Gator among best college football QB recruits in Elite 11 history

Here’s where this former standout QB recruit is ranked.

Once upon a time, the University of Florida was a major destination for blue-chip quarterback recruits after [autotag]Steve Spurrier[/autotag] turned college football upside-down with his fun-and-gun offense. While [autotag]Kyle Trask[/autotag] was a pleasant surprise and [autotag]Anthony Richardson[/autotag] looks like the real deal — if he can stay healthy — it has been a long while since the Gators have brought in a top-name play-caller out of the prep ranks.

ESPN’s Billy Tucker took on the task of ranking the best college football QB recruits in Elite 11 history and included one Florida QB who is often overlooked: [autotag]Jeff Driskel[/autotag]. A standout as a senior out of Hagerty High in Oveido, Florida, he was ranked as the best pro-style quarterback recruit in his class by Rivals.com and Scout.com while also winning the Maxwell Football Club National High School Player of the Year and the Gatorade Florida Player of the Year awards.

Driskel was originally ranked No. 10 in the class of 2011 and on Tucker’s list finds himself at No. 14. Below is the breakdown of the former Gator.

Driskel had rare physical gifts at 6-3 with 4.6 40-yard dash speed and a strong arm, attributes that helped elevate him above the rest of the competition, including runner-up and fellow Sunshine Stater Teddy Bridgewater at the 2010 finals. As the reigning Gatorade football Player of the Year in Florida, Driskel decided to stay home and attend the University of Florida. He went 11-2 in his first season as a starter and showed promise, but a leg injury spoiled his career in Gainesville. He rebounded after transferring to Louisiana Tech in 2015, throwing for 4,026 yards and 27 touchdowns. Drafted by the San Francisco 49ers in the sixth round in 2016, Driskel has bounced around the league, more recently converting to a tight end with the Houston Texans.

The Orlando-area native spent four years at Florida, with one redshirt season, before finishing things off with Louisiana Tech. Driskel’s four years in the NFL were all spent with four different teams, including the Detroit Lions and Denver Broncos as well, and never really found his footing at the next level.

Nonetheless, he represents a highwater mark in Florida’s recruiting efforts when it comes to quarterbacks. After missing out on [autotag]Arch Manning[/autotag] and [autotag]Jaden Rashada[/autotag] recently, the Gator Nation continues to pine for the days when the best in the business wanted to come to Gainesville.

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Texans place three players on COVID-19 reserve, TE Jeff Driskel on injured reserve

The Houston Texans placed three players on COVID-19 reserve and also tight end Jeff Driskel on injured reserve.

Houston Texans coach David Culley said it was coming, and the official report finally came on Wednesday afternoon.

“There could possibly be some coming on,” Culley told reporters on Wednesday. “We have a couple of players that are getting re-tested right now. That way we will know a little bit more, probably after 30 to 60 minutes, however long it takes them to get the test. But there are some more guys that are being tested. They are voluntarily being tested.”

The Texans placed three players on the COVID-19 reserve: receiver Brandin Cooks, linebacker Eric Wilson, and kicker Ka’imi Fairbairn. Assuredly the trio will miss the Week 16 tilt with the Los Angeles Chargers.

Houston also placed tight end Jeff Driskel, who was on the practice squad, on injured reserve.

Texans vs. Colts inactives: LB Zach Cunningham out

The Houston Texans announced their inactives against the Indianapolis Colts, and linebacker Zach Cunningham was among them.

The Houston Texans announced their inactives ahead of their Week 13 encounter with the Indianapolis Colts Sunday at 12:00 p.m. Central Time at NRG Stadium.

Safety Terrence Brooks (hamstring), guard Justin McCray (concussion), and quarterback Deshaun Watson (not injury related) were already ruled out on Friday.

Running back David Johnson (illness/thigh) was also ruled out due to injury.

Tight end Jordan Akins, linebacker Zach Cunningham, and tight end Jeff Driskel were healthy inactives.

Receiver Danny Amendola (knee) and defensive end DeMarcus Walker (hamstring) were also ruled out Friday, but were later added to injured reserve on Saturday.

For the Colts, defensive end Ben Banogu, running back Marlon Mack, tackle Julién Davenport, and receiver Mike Strachan were declared inactive.

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Is Jeff Driskel following the path of former Texans QB Joe Webb?

The Houston Texans are trying to figure ways to use Jeff Driskel, which is reminiscent of another former QB, Joe Webb.

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The Houston Texans are determining different ways to utilize Jeff Driskel.

Driskel, who was drafted by the San Francisco 49ers in the sixth round in 2016 from Louisiana Tech, switched over to tight end. The switch crowds the tight end room for Houston, but also gives the Texans another athlete for special teams.

Special teams coordinator Frank Ross likes the possibility of using Driskel’s size at 6-4, 235 pounds to help out with his special teams units.

“Guy can jump, run,” Ross said. “You know, raw obviously. He has not been the hitter, he’s been at quarterback for so long. He’s trying to avoid as much as possible, now we are going to train him in our techniques. But again,  every player here is a football player first and it’s nice to have a guy who’s willing to do anything whether it’s a positional change or whether he’s asked to do a role that would be a little bit foreign to him within a core player already.”

The path Driskel is taking is one reminiscent of former Texans quarterback Joe Webb. The former Minnesota Vikings 2010 sixth-round pick from UAB spent the 2018 season with Houston, playing predominantly on special teams. Although Webb was an emergency quarterback and played some receiver, catching two passes for 13 yards among his 35 offensive snaps, the 6-4, 231-pounder played 312 snaps on special teams.

Although Webb made his transition earlier in his career with the Vikings in 2012, he proved that going from avoiding hits to delivering hits can be done.

Said Ross: “Definitely going to continue to work with him and every player that we have. Here’s the thing about Jeff. He’s smart, he’s tough and of course, he’s physically gifted. So, we’ll see where we can take it.”

Driskel has not seen any playing time in 2021 as Tyrod Taylor and Davis Mills have taken all the snaps at quarterback.

Former Lions QB Jeff Driskel is moving to TE for the Texans

Driskel started three games for the Lions in 2019 and led the team in rushing in those games

One-time Detroit Lions starting quarterback Jeff Driskel is now with the Houston Texans. And he is no longer playing quarterback.

The Texans announced that Driskel, who has been on and off the team throughout the 2021 season, is converting to tight end. Driskel has yet to play for Houston since being signed to the active roster on October 16th.

Driskel played for the Lions in 2019 as Matthew Stafford’s backup. He took over when Stafford suffered his first broken back injury, starting three games for Detroit. The Lions lost all three. Driskel showed his athleticism by running for 151 yards in those three games, and he did catch one pass as well.

It’s an eerie case of continuing to follow in the steps of Tim Tebow for Driskel. When Driskel was at Florida for college, he was anointed as the next Tebow, taking over for the Heisman Trophy winner. After washing out as an NFL quarterback, Tebow reinvented himself as a tight end. Here’s hoping Driskel’s transition goes better; Tebow was released by his Gators coach, Urban Meyer, in his attempt to make the Jacksonville Jaguars as a TE this summer.

Texans vs. Dolphins inactives: Tua Tagovailoa the emergency QB

The Houston Texans released their inactives for the Miami Dolphins, who will have Tua Tagovailoa as emergency QB in Week 9. Jacob Brissett starts.

The Houston Texans released their inactives for Week 9 against the Miami Dolphins Sunday at 12:00 p.m. Central Time at Hard Rock Stadium.

Tight end Pharaoh Brown (thigh), quarterback Deshaun Watson (not injury related), and linebacker Hardy Nickerson (concussion), quarterback Jeff Driskel, running back Cre’Von LeBlanc, linebacker Eric Wilson, and receiver Davion Davis were declared inactive for Houston.

Although not counted on the inactives, linebacker Christian Kirksey (thumb) was placed on injured reserve on Nov. 6. On Friday’s injury report, he was ruled out for the Dolphins.

For Miami, cornerback Trill Williams, receiver Preston Williams, tackle Greg Little, tight end Hunter Long, safety Sheldrick Redwine, linebacker Darius Hodge, and defensive tackle John Jenkins were declared inactive.

According to Joe Schad from the Palm Beach Post, quarterback Tua Tagovailoa will be active, but will be the Dolphins’ emergency quarterback. Jacoby Brissett will get the start.

Texans OC Tim Kelly evaluates QBs’ performance after the Packers game

Houston Texans offensive coordinator Tim Kelly took time to evaluate how three of the quarterbacks played against the Green Bay Packers.

The Houston Texans got to see work from all three of their quarterbacks who have taken part in team portions of practice throughout training camp. Tyrod Taylor, rookie Davis Mills, and Jeff Driskel got some reps against the Green Bay Packers in the Texans’ 26-7 preseason win on Aug. 14 at Lambeau Field.

Taylor went 4-4 for 40 yards, only playing the opening drive for Houston.

Mills completed 11 of his 22 passes for 112 yards and an interception.

Driskel didn’t have as impressive of a stat line throwing, going 1-of-6 for tow yards. However, he did rush five times for 16 yards.

Offensive coordinator Tim Kelly spent time with the Houston media Wednesday to talk about their performance against the Packers.

4 position battles to watch in Texans’ preseason opener vs. Packers

The Houston Texans kickoff the preseason with the Green Bay Packers. Here are four position battles to watch during the exhibition opener.

The Houston Texans have turned over their roster throughout the 2021 offseason.

On June 14, general manager Nick Caserio told “Payne & Pendergast” on Sports Radio 610 [KILT-AM] that the turnover with the roster is just par for the course with the NFL.

“For the most part you can go to one extreme to the other. 25 to 30% of the team is going to be new anyway,” said Caserio. “So, again, what you try to do is look at what you’re dealing with right now with your team and each year is different. Each team is going to be different. We’ve added a number of new players to our team. I think that’s been talked about throughout the course of the spring. So, again, we just try to do what we felt was best for our situation. I think the one thing everyone understands is that no one is guaranteed anything. I think everybody is going to earn, whoever it is, is going to earn their role and job, whatever that is.”

Here are four positions where jobs will be competitive against the Green Bay Packers Saturday night.

5 takeaways from Texans training camp Day 15

The Houston Texans held their 15th day of training camp, and rookie quarterback Davis Mills had one of his best days to date.

HOUSTON — The Houston Texans held their 13th practice on the 15th day of camp at Houston Methodist Training Center. With a lot of trash talk and arguing with the officials, Wednesday morning might have been the most competitive practice the Texans had since camp started two weeks to the day.

“That’s how it supposed to go — it’s guys out here competing,” defensive end Vincent Taylor said following practice. “Coach [David] Culley is doing a great job making sure he gets the best out of both sides of the ball. It’s just good for the team.”

Here are five observations from the Texans’ practice.