I think he's the same guy! I'm rewatching all the episodes with my friend and we're a few episodes past that one. And they have reused actors in the past.

I am really, really wondering too... but Dean was so adamant at their reunion about getting both of them out of there.

I'm not that excited either. Purgatory scenes are definitely the most interesting for me. Ahh well, it'll be cool to see Jensen's dad in the episode and Jensen directed it