zona Just a feeling … oh, never mind. CARDINALS, 20-16 No. 30

Jeff Driskel coming off the most playing time of his career Alex Erickson Jersey White , but will it be enough to secure him a spot on the Bengals final roster?" />Skip to main contentclockmenumore-arrownoyesCincy Jungle homepageHorizontal - WhiteCincy Junglea Cincinnati Bengals communityFollow Cincy Jungle online:Follow Cincy Jungle on TwitterFollow Cincy Jungle on FacebookFollow Cincy Jungle on InstagramLog in or sign upLog InSign UpSite searchSearchSearchCincy Jungle main menuFanpostsFanshotsSectionsLibraryBengalsOddsAboutMastheadCommunity GuidelinesStubHubMoreAll 321 blogs on Horizontal - WhiteFanposts Fanshots Sections #BITESIZEFilm RoomRoster Transactions and ContractsOrange & Black InsiderSalary Cap And CBAJeff Driskel has an uphill battle for his roster spotNew,35commentsJeff Driskel coming off the most playing time of his career, but will it be enough to secure him a spot on the Bengals final roster?EDTShare this storyShare this on FacebookShare this on TwitterShareAll sharing optionsShareAll sharing options for:Jeff Driskel has an uphill battle for his roster spotTwitterFacebookRedditPocketFlipboardEmailPhoto by Kirk Irwin/Getty ImagesWhen a new coaching staff takes over, fans can expect plenty of changes in the coming seasons to the roster, and most of the turnover occurs in regards to pivotal backup spots. The Bengals are no exception to this, and Jeff Driskel fits the bill of a player who’s days may be numbered in a transitional period. Driskel has been the primary backup quarterback since AJ McCarron left, but he was very highly touted by the organization as they even had him as the third quarterback for a short time while McCarron was still around.The big question is if he can defend his spot as the backup to Andy Dalton.Jeff DriskelHeight: 6’4”Weight: 231College: Louisiana Tech (transferred from Florida)Hometown: Oviedo, FLExperience: Entering his fourth seasonCap StatusDriskel is in the final year of his rookie contract, which was inherited by the Bengals when they claimed him off waivers. He is set to make $720,000 in base salary and have the same amount as a cap hit in 2019, according to Spotrac.BackgroundDriskel joined the Bengals when he was waived by the 49ers after the team drafted him in the sixth-round of the 2016 NFL draft. He has spent the past two offseasons with the Bengals. Last year he beat out Matt Barkley for the backup job behind Dalton.In 2018, he got his first shot to play meaningful time in the regular season. He saw all of it come in the final six games after Dalton went down against the Browns with a season ending injury.Driskel threw for just over 1,000 yards with about a 60 percent completion percentage. Driskel also finished with six passing touchdowns to two interceptions. He also added 130 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns (he had a 35 yard touchdown earlier in the season during garbage time against the Saints).Driskel finished the season only pulling out one win, but the Bengals were within one score against the Steelers Andrew Billings Jersey White , Browns and Chargers, which isn’t too bad when you consider he didn’t have A.J. Green for most of those games.2019 OutlookDriskel’s season will largely be decided in the remainder of the preseason. He will have to beat out rookies Ryan Finley, who the Bengals traded up to take in the fourth-round and has had an impressive showing in training camp and the preseason thus far. In fact, Finley has played well enough that Driskel is now playing wide receiver and on special teams in hopes of solidifying his spot on the 53-man roster, even if it is as a third quarterback. For the Bengals’ sake, we have to hope that even if Driskel remains on the roster we only see him if the coaches want to preserve their starters, because they are winning by a healthy margin. If we see Driskel for a meaningful amount of time again in 2019, then it probably won’t be a very happy season for Bengals fans.Roster OddsIt is doubtful Cincinnati will part ways with Finely, so Driskel has his work cut out for him the rest of the way to securing his spot. If it’s a close battle with Finley for the backup spot, the Bengals may give it to Finely anyhow and cut Driskel to keep an extra receiver or defensive lineman. Who knows, maybe Zac Taylor likes the idea of keeping three quarterbacks already since Driskel does have actual game experience to lean on now. If Dalton were to go down, the coaching staff may feel more comfortable trotting out Driskel over Finely.That is all if Finley starts struggling and makes it clear Driskel should be the first man up if Dalton goes down. Driskel’s best hope is that he plays extremely well, and that Finely struggles enough to waiver the confidence of the coaching staff. Even then, it could come down to a numbers game Jeff Driskel Jersey White , and Driskel could be left on the outside looking in. This will easily be one of, if not the toughest decision to make come cutdown day. Roster odds: 50 percent Maybe all the displays of unity at NFL games last weekend also overshadowed an awful week for Pro Picks. We sure hope so: It was more like Poor Picks. And that came with a rare win in a Thursday night game, Rams over 49ers. Hopefully, we can get it right with this week’s opener, Bears at Packers, then follow it up with some more winners. Green Bay struggled to beat lowly Cincinnati in overtime last Sunday, hours after Chicago stunned Pittsburgh, also in OT. Working extra time heading into a short week isn’t exactly an ideal way to prep for a Thursday nighter. The Packers were undermanned, particularly on the offensive line, against the Bengals and had to stage a big rally to win. The Bears used their impressive running game to overcome the Steelers. With so little rest between outings, the disparity in talent can tend to get skewed a bit. Green Bay appears to be a Super Bowl contender when healthy. Chicago has the look of an also-ran in a tough division. Still, this is Bears-Packers, one of the more emotion-packed series in pro sports. The Packers, No. 4 in the AP Pro32 Womens John Ross Jersey , are 7-point favorites over their long-time rival Bears (No. 25). PACKERS, 21-16 KNOCKOUT LEAGUE TIP The Patriots made us sweat but survived as Houston couldn’t make a third-and-1 conversion that might have clinched an upset. We’ll go with SEATTLE to keep us going. No. 17 (tie) Los Angeles Rams (plus 7 1-2) at No. 5 Dallas Rams seem to be putting together nice offense. We already know Dallas has one of those. BEST BET: COWBOYS, 30-19 No. 11 Tennessee (minus 2) at No. 21 Houston It’s early, but Texans loss would be very damaging in division. UPSET SPECIAL: TEXANS, 20-17 No. 24 New Orleans (minus 3) vs. No. 22 Miami at London Rebound time for Dolphins after that New Jersey fiasco. DOLPHINS, 23-21 No. 9 Pittsburgh (minus 2 1-2) at No. 14 Baltimore Best rivalry in football, nasty and physical, but clean. STEELERS, 20-13 No. 6 (tie) Oakland (plus 2 1-2) at No. 6 (tie) Denver Both teams come off offensive stinkers. RAIDERS, 26-21 No. 17 (tie) Carolina (plus 8) at No. 3 New England Both teams come off defensive stinkers. PATRIOTS, 36-23 No. 13 Washington (plus 7) at No. 1 Kansas City, Monday night Redskins might be better than we thought, can prove a lot here. CHIEFS, 24-23 No. 15 Jacksonville (minus 3 1-2) at No. 29 New York Jets Road favorites destroyed us last week. We barely learned a lesson. JAGUARS Clark Harris Jersey White , 19-17 No. 19 Buffalo (plus 7 1-2) at No.2 Atlanta Falcons have escaped twice on road, but routed Green Bay at home. FALCONS, 22-16 No. 26 New York Giants (plus 5) at No. 20 Tampa Bay Just a feeling Giants aren’t bad enough to be 0-4. GIANTS, 17-13 No. 12 Philadelphia (pick-em) at No.27 (tie) Los Angeles Chargers Just a feeling Chargers aren’t bad enough to be 0-4. CHARGERS, 27-23 No. 27 Cincinnati (minus 3) at No. 32 Cleveland Just a feeling Bengals aren’t bad enough to be 0-4. BENGALS, 21-20 No. 31 San Francisco (plus 7) at No.23 Arizona Just a feeling … oh, never mind. CARDINALS, 20-16 No. 30 Indianapolis (plus 13) at No. 16 Seattle Until Andrew Luck is behind center, staying away from Colts doing anything special. SEAHAWKS, 22-6 No. 6 (tie) Detroit (no line) at No. 10 Minnesota Really like what we have seen from Lions thus far. LIONS, 24-20 — 2017 RECORD: Last week: Against spread (5-9-1). Straight up (8-8) Season Totals: Against spread (18-27-1). Straight up: (29-18) Best Bet: 2-1 against spread, 2-1 straight up. Upset special: 3-0 against spread, 3-0 straight up —