Sam Howell Named Starting Quarterback for Washington Commanders’ Season Opener

Aug 18, 2023, 21:43 ET

Head coach Ron Rivera announced the second-year quarterback will open Washington’s season

ASHBURN — Head coach Ron Rivera named Sam Howell the Washington Commanders’ starting quarterback, making the second-year player another quarterback on the team’s long rotation list in recent years.

Rivera announced his decision Friday before practice and after discussions with new offensive coordinator Eric Beiniemy and quarterbacks coach Tavita Pritchard.

Sam Howell, if he stays healthy, will become the seventh Washington quarterback to start the season in as many seasons.

Sam Howell joins the long line of starting quarterbacks for the Washington Commanders in recent years. AP Photo

“It’s what we talked about and we were seeing the growth and improvement from the team activities and the minicamp,” Rivera acknowledged. “We also talked about getting to training camp and continuing to grow and that he showed what he’s capable of.

“We are very happy with him to the point that yesterday we decided that we were going to make him the starter to start the season.”

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Rivera and the Commanders plan to give Sam Howell a chance after the 2022 fifth-round pick impressed them in his debut in the final week of the 2022 season. Sam Howell completed 9-of-12 passes for 77 yards and a touchdown in last week’s exhibition game against the Cleveland Browns and showed his progress in training camp.

“He sees the field very well and he’s going to help us create opportunities on the perimeter,” receiver Terry McLaurin said this week. “He’s been the same guy since he started camp, since he took over in the last game last year. He’s ready.”

Veteran Jacoby Brissett will fill in for Sam Howell when Washington hosts Arizona on Sept. 10 in the first regular-season game since new ownership led by Josh Harris took over the franchise. The team signed Brissett in the offseason to compete for the position with Sam Howell.

2023-08-19 01:43:00
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