Washington Commanders rookie quarterback Sam Howell was trending on Twitter Sunday evening. Howell’s name popped in mentions after San Francisco 49ers rookie quarterback Brock Purdy made his first NFL start.
Purdy threw for two touchdowns and ran in another as the 49ers routed seven-time Super Bowl champion Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 35-7.
Purdy was this year’s “Mr. Irrelevant” as the final selection in the 2022 NFL draft. He got selected 118 picks after the Commanders picked Howell.
Yet, Purdy was starting Sunday for the 49ers, who are in first place in the NFC West division. 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan expressed his confidence in Purdy starting at such a pivotal moment.
Meanwhile, the Commanders have made it apparent that Howell is not ready to touch the field. He has served as the backup to Taylor Heinicke for the past seven games with Carson Wentz injured.
Watching Purdy shred the respectable Buccaneers’ defense didn’t sit well for some fans of the Commanders and Howell. Twitter users tweeted about wanting to see Howell on the field in the wake of Purdy’s stellar performance.
“Look at Brock Purdy and tell me Sam Howell isn’t ready it’s just lazy. When Howell finally gets his chance he will take it and run,” one tweet read.
“Unleash Sam Howell,” another tweet said.
“Look at Brock Purdy playing. This could be Sam Howell,” a Commanders fan tweeted.
The situations are different between Brock Purdy and Sam Howell. Purdy got thrust on the field after injuries to Garoppolo and Week 1 starter Trey Lance. There aren’t suitable options in free agency to turn to this late into the season.
Still, it’s hard for some to fathom Purdy being a vital cog for a Super Bowl-contending team, while the Commanders aren’t willing to trust Howell just yet for a lesser team in stature. The 49ers are a completed roster, having reached the NFC Championship Game two out of the last three years. There’s enough talent to go around to support a rookie QB, even a seventh-rounder.
Washington hasn’t had the recent success of the 49ers. But, some can argue that Heinicke’s play isn’t all that appealing. Yet, the Commanders have won six of their last eight to get into the NFC wild-card picture. Washington has used a similar formula to the 49ers with a strong defense and skilled players on offense to support an otherwise backup quarterback.
The Commanders appear to be a team, one quarterback away from being serious contenders. But the jury is out on whether Howell, a fifth-round pick, is the solution.
It’s not often a fifth-round draft pick or a seventh-rounder such as Purdy can lead a winning team as a first-year starting quarterback. The feat is very rare. Then again, the guy Purdy faced on Sunday, Tom Brady, is a former sixth-round draft pick that led his team to a Super Bowl title in his first year as a starter.
However, Brady did sit during his rookie season. There is no foolproof recipe for developing a quarterback. One day Howell may get his opportunity to lead the Commanders.
Hopefully, his chance will start just as good as Purdy or Brady’s. For now, Howell must wait for his chance. The Commanders are focused on making a playoff run with Heinicke as the starter.
