Jeff Driskel will return to a backup role for the Texans’ Week 3 game. Houston intends to promote the veteran quarterback from its practice squad ahead of Thursday’s Panthers matchup, Aaron Wilson of Sports Talk 790 notes.

One of a few quarterbacks the Texans acquired this offseason, Driskel has climbed into position to be Davis Mills‘ backup. The Texans placed Tyrod Taylor on IR Tuesday, sidelining their starter for at least three games. David Culley confirmed Mills will make his first start in Week 3.

As of Wednesday, Mills and Deshaun Watson are the only quarterbacks on the Texans’ active roster. Culley confirmed Watson will not be an option for the team this week. The Texans made the three-time Pro Bowler a healthy scratch in each of their first two games. Embroiled in criminal and civil cases stemming from sexual assault and sexual misconduct allegations, Watson has not worked with the Texans’ new staff.

During an offseason in which the Texans added Taylor and Mills, Driskel signed a one-year deal worth $2.5MM. The Texans guaranteed Driskel $500K but released him ahead of roster cutdown day. Houston retained Driskel via a practice squad deal, keeping him as a de facto third-stringer — with Watson not factoring into the team’s current QB hierarchy — to start the season.

A former sixth-round 49ers pick, Driskel has been with three teams — the Bengals, Lions and Broncos — during the past three seasons. The 28-year-old passer made one start with Denver last season and has nine as a pro.

The Texans will sign quarterback Jeff Driskel to the practice squad, according to Aaron Wilson of Sports Talk 790 (Twitter link). Driskel missed the cut on Tuesday, but he’ll stick around to provide Houston with some much-needed insurance.

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Deshaun Watson‘s status remains murky – to say the least — with days to go before the start of the season. The Texans are reportedly willing to keep Watson on the team this year, effectively paying him to do nothing. Another team could alter those plans by meeting the Texans’ asking price, but that doesn’t seem likely at the moment.

The teams that remain interested in Watson are only willing to give up draft picks if they are conditional, based on Watson’s availability for the year. New GM Nick Caserio is not willing to take that gamble, since Watson could be sidelined by the league office at any time. Meanwhile, the Dolphins — a long-rumored suitor — are downplaying their interest.

In any event, the Texans aren’t banking on Watson and they need the safety net that Driskel provides. He’ll be on call to start the year while Tyrod Taylor and Davis Mills serve as the top QBs.

The Texans QB room is starting to get a bit crowded. NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reports (via Twitter) that the Texans are signing Jeff Driskel to a one-year deal worth $2.5MM.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter tweets that the deal includes a $250K signing bonus and a $1MM base salary ($500K guaranteed). Driskel will also earn $30K for each game he’s active, and he has up to $750K in playing-time incentives.

The 2016 sixth-round pick didn’t even make it to the regular season with the 49ers, but he subsequently found a home in Cincinnati. He spent three-plus seasons with the Bengals organization, including a 2018 campaign where he threw six touchdowns vs. only two interceptions in nine games (five starts). He started three games filling in for Matthew Stafford in Detroit during the 2019 season, and he started one of his three games for Denver in 2020.

In total, the 28-year-old has seen time in 15 career games (nine starts), completing 58.6-percent of his passes for 2,120 yards, 13 touchdowns, and eight interceptions.

While Driskel got a chunk of change from Houston, it’s not a foregone conclusion that he’ll even make the Texans roster. Following Deshaun Watson‘s trade request and subsequent legal issues, the organization has been busy adding to their uncertain depth chart. Free agent addition Tyrod Taylor is expected to start (assuming Watson is sidelined), and 2021 third-round pick Davis Mills will surely make the roster. This means Driskel will likely be competing with free agent addition (and former teammate) Ryan Finley for a spot on the roster.