DEC 30: Despite the Commanders seemingly moving towards Brissett as their starter at quarterback for the remainder of the season following two consecutive games in which Howell was benched, it looks like injuries will keep Howell in place under center for this weekend, at least. According to Aaron Wilson of KPRC2, Brissett will be sidelined in Week 17 with an aggravated hamstring injury. With Brissett out this week, Howell will return to the starting role. Practice squad pass Jake Fromm will be signed to the active roster in order to back up Howell against the 49ers.
Joining Fromm on the 53-man roster from the practice squad will be long snapper Tucker Addington and offensive tackle Alex Akingbulu. They will also be joined by safety Sean Chandler and cornerback Nick Whiteside, who will serve as standard gameday practice squad elevations tomorrow. Fromm, Addington, and Akingbulu will be filling the roster spots left vacant by offensive tackle Charles Leno, safety Percy Butler, and center Tyler Larsen, who were all placed on injured reserve today.
DEC 27: After an aggressive quarterback pursuit in 2022, the Commanders stood down this year and centered their offseason around Sam Howell‘s development. Howell has started throughout the season; that is about to change.
Washington has benched the second-year QB in back-to-back games, and after Jacoby Brissett provided a spark in each, Ron Rivera said the veteran will receive his first start of the season in Week 17. Brissett, who signed a one-year deal this offseason, has already started for four teams throughout his career. This will be Brissett’s 49th career start.
This decision can be interpreted in multiple ways. On one hand, Rivera is almost definitely coaching his final games with the Commanders. He has long been viewed as on his way out after his fourth season. Front office changes are also expected, so this staff’s view of Howell may not matter much. But the team has also been linked to pursuing another starter-caliber QB in 2024 to at least push Howell. The Patriots’ upset of the Broncos in Week 16 moved the 4-11 Commanders into the No. 3 draft slot, and with the Cardinals not certain to select a QB at No. 2 — where they currently reside — Washington could be in position to make a major investment in Josh Harris‘ first offseason running the show.
Brissett, 31, has started for the Patriots, Colts, Dolphins and Browns throughout an interesting eight-year career. He has been one of this era’s premier backups, being thrust into duty twice on short notice and again later due to Deshaun Watson‘s suspension. The Colts turned to Brissett soon after acquiring him via trade in 2017, with Andrew Luck‘s troublesome shoulder injury requiring a full-season absence. A better Brissett version resurfaced in 2019, when Luck abruptly retired. The Colts then gave their regularly used backup a two-year, $30MM extension. Brissett could not command those terms in 2021 (with the Dolphins) or ’22 (Browns), but he made 16 starts in that span.
The Commanders gave Brissett a one-year, $8MM deal in March. While the team held a competition for the starting job, the Howell praise that persisted during the offseason pointed to the second-year passer winning that battle. Howell has shown flashes, but after struggling during a Commanders six-game skid, the North Carolina product has encountered some early turbulence. Despite two games remaining, Howell has joined only Watson (2018) as QBs to be sacked at least 60 times in a season over the past 17 years. The North Carolina alum has been dropped 60 times this season. Howell also leads the NFL with 17 INTs.
This Brissett move likely ensures Howell will not move close to David Carr‘s single-season record for sacks taken (72 in 2002), but it also points him toward an uncertain path after making all 15 starts for the Commanders this season. The team initially turned to Howell in Week 18 of last season, with the rookie leapfrogging Carson Wentz and Taylor Heinicke on the depth chart. A new HC-GM combo will be poised to assess Howell in 2024.
Congrats, Jacoby; you get to face the 49ers fresh off an ass-whooping. Good luck.
Probably smart of Washington to let the experienced backup give it a shot instead of the shell-shocked young guy.
Yep, super smart of Washington. Gotta protect him, ya know, like they have behind that O-line all season long.
I know you’re being sarcastic, but if they fail to provide him what he needs initially, it makes more sense to make the correct decision later on than double down so he can get killed by the best front 7 in the sport.
Oops
Oops what? He’s starting because Brissett is hurt. They could elevate Fromm but that doesn’t make much sense.
Why lol. The season is dead. Brissett offers little to no future in Washington. Just let Howell finish it out. It’s not like losing will hurt his confidence. Washington does plenty enough of that before Howell and will be doing a lot more of it in the future.
Whoever plays is getting sacked 10 times against a pissed off 49ers team coming off a spanking. Let it be the backup QB who is in a walk year instead of the guy who might still have a future there. Let Howell regroup and insert him back into the lineup for week 18.
I didn’t realize they were coming up against SF this week. It makes more sense now lol.
Haha for sure. In general, I agree with your opinion of starting the guy with a future though.
They’re getting Maye to compete with Howell lmao
Howell has been punished plenty. Let him finish the season from the safety of the sidelines.
Getting benched in two straight games is a pretty good indication that Howell is not the long term answer in Washington.
It’s been a tough season full of sacks and with a poorly schemed offense. Howell does look too short in there (so does Baker Mayfield) and struggles to see over OL in the current scheme.
Many NFL quarterbacks have had mixed results in their first starting season and turned out to be stars. Howell has played some fine games, doesn’t give up easily, has the stoic grit of Mayfield.
Howell is either first tier backup or mid-tier starter. But he needs some time to adjust, playing him now while in a rookier slump will do him no long term good. Howell needs a reset.
60 sacks w/2 gms left 2play ! Not playing Boston College no more get the ball out of ur hands. 17 picks, when u do throw it aim 4 ur guys. Wonder if nfl careers of trubisky n Howell muddy things up 4Maye in upcoming draft. All coming frm same system.
Does it matter?? It’s probably Riverboat Ron’s last game as HC of the Redskins
Either that or Week 18 when FedEx Field will be filled with Dallas Cowboy fans.
I know it’s tempting to want to draft that new, hot young QB fresh out of college but how good would that QB, whoever it is, be behind that O-Line? Yeah, maybe he will throw some balls away earlier than Howell so he’s not taking an astounding 60 sacks, so far, but it’ll still be tough going. I’d say Washington is at least one season away from going for that so-called franchise QB. Could they miss out on someone? Maybe. Take a look at the history of QBs drafted in the 1st round and tell me success of that shiny new toy will ne guaranteed. They need to build up the whole team before sticking a young QB behind center.
Absolutely. Anyone who has watched the Redskins/Commies play over the last three years, knows that the weak link is the offensive line. QB for the Commies has been a suicide mission most of the last five years.