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Jeff Driskel may have dodged a bullet.
During the Cincinnati Bengals’ preseason loss to the Indianapolis Colts, Driskel was knocked out of the game with a thumb injury. It was later reported that he may have a broken thumb and would possibly require surgery, which would knock him out for around eight week.
While Driskel did suffer two broken fingers, it apparently wasn’t bad enough for surgery to be necessary, according to The Cincinnati Enquirer.
#Bengals QB Jeff Driskel suffered two broken fingers last night, but no surgery needed - so still in the mix to be carried to the 53.
— Jim Owczarski (@JimOwczarski) September 1, 2017
Driskel had his hand in a cast after the game, but it looks like he won’t need it for too long. But, will it be long enough for the Bengals to place him on Injured Reserve or even waive him?
Keeping an injured third quarterback doesn’t seem wise, but Driskel has had an impressive preseason. He’s also the only quarterback other than Andy Dalton that is signed through 2019. No one else is even signed for 2018, though AJ McCarron could be ruled a restricted free agent following arbitration.
That’s why keeping Driskel at all costs seems to be the Bengals’ goal right now for him. Doing so becomes more complicated with his injury. The Bengals will probably cut a veteran like Wallace Gilberry to keep Driskel on the initial 53-man roster. Then, they can place Driskel on IR and later use the IR-return designation after eight weeks.
That is, if the Bengals actually think one of those two designations is worth using on Driskel, but if they don’t, he’d simply stay on IR and remain a member of the Bengals.