CINCINNATI (AP) — Jeff Driskel headed directly from the practice field to the podium in the media room and headed for Andy Dalton’s usual seat. In countless ways Rodney Anderson Cincinnati Bengals Jersey , the third-year quarterback has entered a new frontier.Until last Sunday, he’d never gotten into a game because of an injury. He’s practicing with the Bengals‘ starting offense this week for the first time all season.And on Sunday, he’ll make his first career start against the Broncos (5-6) at Paul Brown Stadium in a game the Bengals (5-6) need to win to maintain any hopes of reaching the playoffs.“All right!” he said, settling into a chair behind the microphone.He’s been waiting a long time for such a chance.Driskel was hoping to lead the Florida Gators after Tim Tebow’s departure, but he broke his leg and wasn’t able to win the job. He transferred to Louisiana Tech for the 2015 season, threw for 4,033 yards and was drafted by San Francisco in the sixth round. The Bengals claimed him off waivers before the 2016 season.They liked his arm, his mobility and how he responded in pressure situations, keeping him as the No. 3 behind Dalton and AJ McCarron. Last year Rodney Anderson Jersey 2019 , he broke his passing hand in the final preseason game and hurt his non-passing arm while playing the role of receiver during practice late in the season.McCarron won a grievance and became a free agent after the season. Driskel competed with Matt Barkley for the backup job during training camp, getting it when Barkley hurt his left knee in the final preseason game.Now, he’s got a chance to finish the season as the starter.Dalton is out for the season with an injured right thumb , suffered during a 35-20 loss to Cleveland on Sunday. Driskel knows it’s an opportunity that could be a turning point in his career, even though he can’t think of it that way.“We’re just kind of worried about this week,” he said Wednesday. “If you start to let your mind wander into the distance, you can’t narrow your focus on this week.”His biggest challenge this week is not allowing the pressure to bother him.“Just stay relaxed,” coach Marvin Lewis said.He’ll have one advantage. Receiver A.J. Green returned to practice on a limited basis Wednesday after missing the past three games with an injured toe on his right foot. Green said he expects to play on Sunday, barring a setback in practice during the week. Without Green Color Rush Rodney Anderson Jersey , the offense has struggled in three straight losses.“I’m just happy to be playing football again,” Green said. “These last four weeks have been tough.”The biggest change in the offense will be Driskel’s ability to run. He threw his first NFL touchdown pass and ran for another against Cleveland, beating a safety to the end zone.“He had a pretty good one on that touchdown run and he said, ‘Well, I wasn’t really running that fast,'” offensive coordinator Bill Lazor said.WHIRLWINDThe Bengals claimed quarterback Tom Savage off waivers from San Francisco on Monday, providing a backup for Driskel. It’s Savage’s third team this season — the Saints waived him in the final cuts. He packed a bag of clothes and arrived on Tuesday.“Three systems in three months — completely different,” Savage said. “But it’s all (football). You’ve just got to throw it to the open guy.”TACKLE PROBLEMSLeft tackle Cordy Glenn was inactive for the game against the Browns with a back injury. Replacement Jake Fisher hurt his back in the game and didn’t return. Both were held out of practice Wednesday, along with DE Carlos Dunlap (hip). CB Dre Kirkpatrick (shoulder) and LB Nick Vigil (knee) were limited. CINCINNATI (AP) — Andy Dalton is out for the rest of the season with an injured thumb on his passing hand Cheap Rodney Anderson Jersey , another significant blow to a Bengals team that has fallen apart in the past month.Dalton reached for a fumbled ball and had someone land on his right hand during a 35-20 rout by the Cleveland Browns on Sunday, Cincinnati's fifth loss in its past six games.Just like that, a season that started with so much promise has turned into a nosedive . Cincinnati (5-6) is without its quarterback or much hope that things will get much better down the stretch. The Bengals put Dalton on injured reserve after he had more tests and medical opinions Monday about the best way to get the thumb healed.Coach Marvin Lewis said Dalton's thumb is expected to be healed before the start of offseason workouts.It's the same thumb that Dalton broke while making a tackle on an interception return against the Steelers in 2015. He missed the last three regular-season games and an 18-16 loss to the Steelers in a first-round playoff game at Paul Brown Stadium.Jeff Driskel will start for the Bengals the rest of the way, getting his first chance to lead the team in his third NFL season. The Bengals claimed quarterback Tom Savage off waivers from the San Francisco 49ers as a backup on Monday."The more you get out there and the more you play well, the more confidence you are going to get in yourself and the people around you," Driskel said Monday.Dalton completed 62 percent of his passes for 2,566 yards with 21 touchdowns, 11 interceptions and a passer rating of 89.6, the third-highest of his eight-year career.Even with Dalton Rodney Anderson Jersey Womens , the Bengals weren't doing much except losing.After a 4-1 start that boosted them atop the AFC North, the Bengals have lost five of six and fallen to third place. It's their worst stretch since 2016, when they went 1-5-1 over the middle of the schedule and finished 6-9-1, ending their streak of five straight playoff appearances.After Dalton got hurt on Sunday, Driskel came in and threw his first career touchdown pass and ran for another as the Browns went conservative with a big lead. Cleveland threw the ball only four times in the second half and played softer on defense. Driskel was 17 of 29 for 155 yards.Coordinator Bill Lazor said Monday that Driskel has shown his ability to lead the offense in his limited opportunities."I think guys see it, and that's the important part," Lazor said. "You can't talk them into feeling good about somebody; they've got to earn it. And he's earned it every day in practice and in the preseason games."With Driskel running the offense, the Bengals had five false-start penalties — each by a different player — and one more for an illegal shift in the fourth quarter. Driskel thinks that working with the starting offense in practice this week will fix the problems."The more time you are able to get in and out of the huddle with those guys, hear the cadence Rodney Anderson Cincinnati Bengals Jersey , say the cadence, it's just beneficial," he said. "I don't think it helps coming off the bench."With five games left and Dalton hurt, the Bengals are facing a big challenge."They've got to do it," Lewis said. "They've got to dig out."INJURY UPDATECornerback Tony McRae suffered a concussion in the third quarter. The medical staff strapped him to a backboard and wheeled him off the field, concerned he might have a spinal injury. Lewis said Monday that McRae had a concussion but no spinal injury.HUE'S GAME BALLLewis didn't have anything to say about Browns safety Damarious Randall handing the ball to Hue Jackson after he intercepted one of Dalton's passes on Sunday."I don't want to comment on somebody else's player," Lewis said.