Ron Rivera may not have been ready to answer on Wednesday, but he addressed the Washington Commanders quarterback situation Friday morning. Rivera announced the inevitable that Sam Howell will be the Commanders’ Week 1 starting quarterback against the Arizona Cardinals on Sept. 10.
Rivera got criticized by media and fans when he wasn’t ready to name Howell the quarterback starter earlier this week. Instead, he met with Howell, backup quarterback Jacoby Brissett, offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy, and quarterbacks coach Tavita Pritchard on Thursday to discuss.
“It was Sam’s [job] to lose, and he did nothing to lose it,” Rivera said, per ESPN’s John Keim.
The Commanders selected Howell in the fifth round of the 2022 NFL Draft. He didn’t make his NFL debut until the season finale, starting in Washington’s 26-6 win over the Dallas Cowboys.
Sam Howell entered the off-season team activities as the QB1. The Commanders signed veteran journeyman Jacoby Brissett to provide competition. Brissett has 48 career NFL starts, including 11 last season with the Cleveland Browns.
However, there wasn’t much of a competition. All eyes could see who was the inevitable starting quarterback. Yet, Rivera continued to push Brissett’s name publicly for consideration, more than likely for motivation for the second-year QB Howell.
As training camp persisted, Howell remained in the clear lead. He completed 9-of-12 passes for 77 yards, including a 26-yard touchdown pass to Jahan Dotson in Washington’s 17-15 preseason win over the Browns.
Howell also held his own in two joint practices against the Baltimore Ravens this week. Rivera said Howell “solidified it for me” at the first Ravens’ practice.
Rivera laminated the importance of having a young quarterback for the franchise. It’s something the Commanders have failed to secure since the departure of Kirk Cousins in 2018. Rivera enters Year 4 as Washington’s head coach, resting his future in the hands of a fifth-round draft pick with one start.
So will Bieniemy, who had Patrick Mahomes for five seasons with the Kansas City Chiefs. Thus far, Howell has done everything needed to secure the job for Week 1.
