John KimESPN Staff Writer3 Minute Reading
Does Sam Howell have what it takes to be an NFL starting QB?
Tim Hasselbeck discusses why a more traditional Commanders offense could help Sam Howell become a legitimate NFL starter.
Howell has only been working with the starters since spring practices began. He took all but a few reps with the starters; Jacoby Brissett, who was signed in the offseason, took his place for a few snaps before the preseason opener against the Cleveland Browns.
Washington hosts the Arizona Cardinals in the season opener on September 10.
It’s long been known that it’s Howell’s job to lose — and he’s never done anything to lose his grip. He completed 9 of 12 passes for 77 yards and a touchdown against the Browns. In the two-day joint practice session against the Baltimore Ravens, his performance on the first day was “really, really good,” said the source. He wasn’t as sharp as day two, but the Commanders still liked what they saw.
Rivera pointed to this past week as an important one for Howell to measure his development. After the second day, when asked what Howell needs to do to be named the starter, Rivera said, “Keep up what he’s been showing.”
The Commanders liked his decisiveness — especially when working in strides and finding an open target — and his improved footwork, both on drops and handoffs. They like his decision making. They said other aspects of his game, like being more efficient in the red zone, could be improved with more experience.
“The biggest thing I’m really happy about is his decision-making; that’s a big plus,” Rivera said Wednesday.
Washington drafted Howell in the fifth round in 2022, although a team source said before the draft that the Commanders would have targeted him in the second or third round had they not traded Carson Wentz in it’s still early in the offseason. When Howell, who started all three years at North Carolina, was in the fifth, they jumped.
He served as No. 3 quarterback behind Wentz and Taylor Heinicke early in the season. But when Wentz broke a finger in Week 6 against the Chicago Bears, Howell was elevated to primary backup. That gave him more work in practice against the scout team. He remained in that role until Wentz returned in Week 15.
However, when Washington was eliminated from playoff contention two weeks later, it started Howell at the end of the season. In a 26-6 win over the Dallas Cowboys, who played their starters, Howell completed 11 of 19 passes for 169 yards, a touchdown and an interception. He also ran to score. Rivera said they liked the way he handled his start, from his decision-making to his ability to self-correct any mistake.
Early in the offseason, Rivera said Howell would enter spring workouts as the No. The Commanders eventually cut Wentz and lost Heinicke to the Atlanta Falcons in free agency.
Rivera said several times, “Don’t sleep on Jacoby.” But Howell played enough that a real fight never happened.
“Jacob has done some good things as well, so we feel comfortable about the quarterback room right now,” Rivera said.