Broncos News: Team releases Jeff Driskel, signs new tight end
The Denver Broncos made a couple of minor transactions on Monday as they still settle in following the NFL Draft.
Jeff Driskel has been released after just one season with the team. It was a move that most expected.
Driskel was signed as a free agent by the team last offseason to provide an experienced backup in case Drew Lock went down. Unfortunately, that came to fruition much sooner than anyone hoped, as Lock was injured in Week 2 against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Driskel was decent in relief, but he didn’t do enough to stay in as the starter as the Broncos turned to Brett Rypien to start in Week 4.
In one relief appearance and one start, Driskel completed 54.7 percent of his passes for 432 yards with three touchdowns and two interceptions. He had a QBR of 43.4.
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Following a trade for Teddy Bridgewater, Driskel became expendable. The team will roll with Rypien as the No. 3 quarterback.
The Broncos also signed veteran tight end Eric Saubert, who will serve mostly as a blocking tight end.
Saubert was a promising rookie when he came into the league as a fifth-round pick of the Atlanta Falcons in 2017, but the Broncos will be his sixth NFL team.
He has just 10 career catches for 85 yards but there could be room in Denver where tight end depth is shallow.
Behind Noah Fant and Albert Okwuegbunam, who is coming off of a serious injury, the Broncos only have unproven Austin Fort and undrafted Shaun Beyer. If Saubert shows enough as a blocking tight end in-line, he could vault up to the No. 3 spot by the end of the summer.