Sam Howell Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

This month, the head coach Ron Rivera and the Washington Commanders announced that young quarterback Sam Howell would be the team’s first-team quarterback going forward as the team would not be pursuing a veteran quarterback during free agency. And it sure sounds like Howell is excited to be given a chance to start for the team.

During an interview this week, Sam Howell was asked about the team’s decision to make him the team’s starting quarterback, and he was understandably excited about the decision, saying “the work starts now.”

“I was obviously super excited, and I’m super grateful to Coach Rivera for giving me that opportunity,” Howell said in a video shared by Matthew Paras. “But really the work starts now. I’ve got to take advantage of the opportunity that I do have and do everything to try and give this team a chance to win every time single game that we play. The process doesn’t change, I’ve always tried to get better, but with this opportunity, I’ve got to take advantage of it.”

It sounds like Howell understands that while this is a big opportunity, he is going to have to continue to earn it with his play this season.

[Matthew Paras]