Sam Howell has occupied the Commanders’ starting quarterback role throughout the offseason. With the team set to begin the preseason, their evaluation of him will reach the next stage. Head coach Ron Rivera remains confident the team’s young signal-caller is progressing well, but his Week 1 starter’s status is not assured yet. 
The 2022 fifth-rounder was declared Washington’s starter of the present and future as early as January, with Carson Wentz unsurprisingly being released not long after. Howell was tapped as the team’s presumed QB1 after the hiring of offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy and once again ahead of training camp. His performance since then has drawn praise from Rivera.
As detailed by Fox Sports’ Ralph Vacchiano, Howell has impressed with his ability to pick up Bieniemy’s scheme. As a result, he will be in pole position during the preseason, but Rivera has been consistent over the course of the offseason in mentioning Jacoby Brissett as well. The veteran was signed to a one-year deal to serve as an insurance policy in case Howell – who only started one game last year – struggles in his opportunity to hold down the full-time gig.
As Vacchiano notes, it is not clear at this point if the starter’s role could be Brissett’s to win, as opposed to strictly being Howell’s to lose. The former has 48 starts to his name, including the first 11 games of the season last year when he filled in for the Browns until Deshaun Watson‘s suspension had been served. Brissett, 30, represents a high-floor, low-ceiling option for a Commanders team facing what many feel could be a make-or-break season for Rivera.
The NFC East figures to be highly competitive after each of the teams other than Washington made the postseason. Howell’s play during exhibition contests will go a long way in determining his fate, but individual expectations for the North Carolina product will be tempered compared to his divisional counterparts considering the experience gulf which exists. In spite of that, Rivera is assured the Commanders will have have a passer in place by Week 1 who will allow the team to compete for a playoff spot.
“I mean, we got some really good quarterback play going on right now,” he said, via Vacchiano. “We’ve got a real good quarterback room.”
Howell gets a year to start and gain experience, and if he’s pure booty juice he becomes the backup as they will get one of those top QBs to kick off the new ownership groups tenure. Win/Win
Think it a race between Washington and then Chicago again with Tampa Bay as a wildcard in that race for #1
I think Indy will be terrible this year but if they believe in Richardson they should trade down from what will likely be a top 4 pick
I’m a Chris Ballard fan but I think he’s a dead man walking. Irsay will make him the fall guy then the Colts will have a fire sale.
There is zero chance that Chicago is competing for the #1 pick.
What if that RB pretending to be a QB gets hurt?
There is very much a chance Chicago is in the running for #1. If Fields does not take a step up as QB all he is a running back that occasionally throws.
I don’t see what Rivera sees in him. In his one start against Dallas he had the usual backup QB performance (one good downfield throw, one horrendous end zone interception, and a lot of short dump-offs). He played the whole game and finished with a whopping 169 total passing yards, with most of those yards being the result of good YAC efforts by his receivers. In other words, I wouldn’t be surprised to see Jacoby Brissett starting by Week 4…
Don’t forget that was in Scott Turner’s clueless scheme. EB will breathe new life into this team. Howell can do it all. I just hope that EB can scheme around this basic OL RR built for him
Having EB calling plays raises the floor and ceiling for the entire offense. The key to the offense isn’t gonna be Howell, it’s most definitely the play of the O line. Howell can sling it if given a chance and they have decent playmakers in McLaurin, Dotson, Robinson and Gibson. If the O line plays up to par in the new system then the Commanders won’t be within earshot of those top QBs in next years draft. I’m a Dallas fan but I would not sleep on this Washington team.
2023 is a throw away year in DC. There will be a new HC, QB, and hopefully GM in 2024.
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I sent the email! We’ll see how Bill does in year 4 w/o Tom. Most expect another 500 team. To me, that speaks volumes. But that’s the beauty of sports; fun debating them! Thanks for thinking of me in the league.
I, too, think Howell gets a year in Bieniemy’s system to see how he works out. And if he shows well, give him another year in ’24. What’s the NFL hit rate on “absolute, sure-fire, can’t miss” top-flight, once-in-a-generation WHILE STILL IN COLLEGE, prospects? Take a look at the success rate of all 1st round QBs over the last 10 years. I’d rather take a lesser guy and develop him into a highly serviceable QB and put that 1st round draft capital elsewhere.
The man will have growing pains and I’m good with that. Give him time to grow and learn the lessons that are required. Play hard young man!