Sam Howell is back in the driver’s seat to be the Washington Commanders starting quarterback to open the 2023 season.
Head coach Ron Rivera told reporters Saturday that the second-year QB will enter training camp as the No. 1 QB.
“He’s much shown us what we want to see,” Rivera said (via ESPN’s John Keim).
That’s a big vote of confidence for Howell, who entered the offseason as the strong favorite to be QB1 this year. Yet in early June, Rivera hinted otherwise by telling reporters, “Just because I said he’s going to start off as QB1 doesn’t mean he’s going to finish as QB1.”
The Commanders brought in veteran Jacoby Brissett in the offseason to compete for the job. Thus far, however, Rivera said that Howell has done everything the team has asked.
“He’s young, we know he is young,” Rivera said (via ESPN). “There was a lot of room for growth, and we know that, but he’s got a good skillset. He’s mobile, he’s got good foot movement, he’s got quick twitch to him, good decision maker. He is still learning to make those decisions, but he’s also got the arm talent and that’s the thing that excites us.”
The Commanders stuck a mic on the 22-year-old QB in workouts and Rivera said his leadership in the huddle showed.
“A couple things that really stood out to me was really his confidence level in terms of calling the huddle, breaking the huddle, getting to the line of scrimmage, making his calls and then operating the offense,” Rivera said.
Sounds as if Howell is definitively back on top of the depth chart. Commanders fans and others had mixed thoughts on Rivera’s comments.
Jacoby by Week 6 confirmed.
— BettingPros (@BettingPros) June 17, 2023
It was Howell’s job all along and was always going to be.
— SunKing (@fifthorkid) June 17, 2023
Drake Maye guaranteed in 2024 draft if they play Howell.
— Local Hero™ (@HofSpillane) June 17, 2023
Sam is going to surprise some people. He’ll be better than his 5th round pick
— Alex Bonfield (@AlexBonfield) June 18, 2023
If you watched Howell in 2020-2021 you know what hes capable of.
— . (@steveauxx_) June 18, 2023
[John Keim, ESPN; Pro Football Talk]
