Sam Howell Injury News & Updates

Howell (coach's decision) is inactive but operating as the Eagles' emergency third quarterback versus the Lions on Sunday Night Football.

Howell will once again operate as the No. 3 QB in Week 11, and he'd only enter the game if Jalen Hurts and Tanner McKee are forced out. The 25-year-old has yet to appear in a regular-season contest this year.

Howell (coach's decision) is inactive but will serve as the Eagles' emergency third quarterback against the Packers on Monday.

Howell is restricted from entering Monday's game unless Jalen Hurts and Tanner McKee were both removed due to injury, illness or ejection. Howell has not appeared in a single regular-season game in 2025.

Howell (coach's decision) is inactive but will be available as the Eagles' emergency third quarterback against the Giants on Sunday.

As the emergency third quarterback, Howell is prohibited from playing in Week 8 unless Jalen Hurts and Tanner McKee are both removed from Sunday's game due to injury, illness or ejection.

Howell is inactive (coach's decision) but will be available as the emergency third quarterback Sunday against the Vikings.

The 25-year-old has regularly filled that role this season since initially opening the campaign as Jalen Hurts' primary backup. Howell has yet to see game action while Tanner McKee continues to serve as Philadelphia's No. 2 quarterback.

Howell (coach's decision) is inactive but available as Philadelphia's emergency third quarterback Thursday night versus New York.

Howell will once again operate as the No. 3 quarterback in Week 6, and he'll only be eligible to enter the game if both Jalen Hurts and Tanner McKee go down with injuries. Howell has yet to appear in a regular-season game since being traded to Philadelphia in August.

Howell (coach's decision) is inactive but available as the Eagles' emergency third quarterback against the Broncos on Sunday.

For a second straight week, Howell will serve as the No. 3 QB behind Jalen Hurts and Tanner McKee. Howell was the primary backup for the first games of the season while McKee was recovering from a broken thumb. Howell can only see the field if both Hurts and McKee leave Sunday's contest due to injury.

Howell (coach's decision) is inactive but available as the Eagles' emergency third quarterback Sunday in Tampa Bay.

Howell served as Philadelphia's backup signal-caller to Jalen Hurts in the first three games of the season with Tanner McKee recovering from a broken thumb. Now that McKee can handle the No. 2 role, Howell will move to No. 3 and only see if the field if both Hurts and McKee leave Sunday's contest due to injury.

Howell is expected to serve as the Eagles' QB2 for Thursday night's Week 1 opener against the Cowboys, Jeff McLane of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

Tanner McKee has a hand injury and isn't expected to be ready to back up Jalen Hurts for Week 1. Howell was acquired from the Vikings in late-August.

The Vikings traded Howell along with a 2026 sixth-round draft pick to Philadelphia on Sunday in exchange for a fifth-round pick in 2026 and a seventh-round selection in 2027, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

Howell had been slated to back up starting QB J.J. McCarthy in Minnesota, but that role will now go to Carson Wentz, who is set to sign with the Vikings, per Rapoport. As for Howell, he'll likely be behind both Jalen Hurts and Tanner McKee on the Eagles' QB depth chart, though McKee is dealing with a finger injury and may not be ready to play by Week 1. Philadelphia also has Dorian Thompson-Robinson and Kyle McCord currently on the roster, though at least one -- and likely both -- will almost certainly be cut in the coming days.

Howell completed one of five passes for 13 yards and an interception in Saturday's 20-12 preseason loss to the Patriots. He added 14 rushing yards on three carries.

The fourth-year QB isn't exactly known for his mobility, but he gained more yards on the ground than through the air in two drives as part of an overall poor performance from the Vikings' offense. Howell is set as the top backup to J.J. McCarthy this season, but the 2024 first-round pick would have to be a significant flop, or suffer another serious injury, for the former Commander and Seahawk to see more than mop-up duty this season.

Vikings coach Kevin O'Connell said Thursday that Howell will start Saturday's preseason game against the Patriots.

Howell completed 11 of 13 passes for 105 yards and rushed four times for two yards and a touchdown during Minnesota's preseason opener against Houston, which he entered after J.J. McCarthy started the first drive. Top wide receiver Justin Jefferson (hamstring) won't be available Saturday, but Jordan Addison (suspension) remains eligible to suit up for preseason action despite having to delay his regular-season debut until Week 4. It seems more likely than not, though, that O'Connell will sit the rest of Minnesota's starters alongside McCarthy, however.

Howell completed 11 of 13 passes for 105 yards and added two yards and a touchdown on four carries in Saturday's 20-10 preseason win over Houston.

J.J, McCarthy got the start for Minnesota but played only one drive before turning things over to Howell, who produced points on his first two possessions in a very efficient performance, including a one-yard TD on a QB sneak late in the second quarter. The former starter for the Commanders is set to be the backup for the Vikings this season, and that experience could come in handy for Howell if McCarthy -- who missed his entire rookie season in 2024 due to knee surgery -- has trouble staying healthy once again.

Howell was traded from the Seahawks to the Vikings on Saturday, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

This was a likely outcome for Howell after Seattle drafted Jalen Milroe on Day 2 of the NFL Draft. Howell has starting experience and is a serviceable backup behind J.J. McCarthy, who is set to take over as the new starter in Minnesota.

The Seahawks have received trade inquiries about Howell and are open to trading him, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com reports.

Howell served as Seattle's backup last season and threw just 14 passes behind the mostly healthy Geno Smith. With Smith now in Las Vegas, Seattle has revamped its quarterback room, bringing in both Sam Darnold and Drew Lock. GM John Schneider said earlier this week that Howell would compete with Lock for the backup QB role, but the organization's reported willingness to deal Howell suggests that Lock has the inside track on the job. Howell could be an intriguing option for teams in need of a backup QB -- despite his struggles in a very limited sample last season (he completed just five of those 14 pass attempts), he has ample experience as a starter, completing 63 percent of his pass attempts for 3,946 yards and a 21:21 TD:INT over 17 regular-season games with Washington in 2023.

Howell will compete for the No. 2 job behind Sam Darnold after the Seahawks signed Drew Lock on Friday, Bob Condotta of The Seattle Times reports.

GM John Schneider added that he looks forward to Howell's development in the new scheme after the Seahawks fired OC Ryan Grubb after just one season and replaced him with Klint Kubiak. Schneider also stated that Lock's arrival doesn't mean the team won't add another quarterback during the draft. Howell played just 25 snaps during 2024, completing five of 14 passes for 24 yards and an interception. Such a small sample size isn't determinative of Howell's future, however, as he was a serviceable option in Washington in 2023 with 3,946 yards, 21 touchdowns and 21 interceptions in addition to five rushing scores. Meanwhile, Lock's career numbers aren't much better, but he has familiarity with the organization and may be a more steady backup as the Seahawks look to perform a quick rebuild with Darnold's lead.

Howell completed five of 14 passes for 24 yards and an interception and rushed once for two yards across three games during the 2024 season.

Howell played just 25 snaps this season, 24 of which were in relief of an injured Geno Smith in Week 15 against the Packers. Howell's numbers are unappealing, but he should still be considered a formidable backup moving forward, as he posted 3,946 passing yards, 21 touchdowns and 21 interceptions in 2023. Smith and Howell both have one year remaining on their respective contracts, so as long as Smith isn't cut as a cap casualty, Howell's two years removed from a true starting competition.

Howell took over for Geno Smith (knee) in the second half of Sunday's 30-13 loss to Green Bay, completing just five of 14 pass attempts for 24 yards and an interception. He added one carry for two yards.

Howell did not fare well in his first extended look since joining the Seahawks this past offseason. The former Commander took over for an injured Smith early in the second half and finished with an abysmal 14.6 passer rating on 14 attempts. Smith's knee injury didn't appear to be season-ending, but the team will run tests on the veteran starter Monday. In the event Howell is asked to start in Week 16, he would make for a poor fantasy choice in almost any format given his track record for inaccuracy combined with a tough opponent (the Vikings).

Howell completed 11 of 14 passes for 153 yards, one touchdown and no interceptions in Saturday's 16-15 preseason loss to the Titans. He added two rushes for 11 yards.

The Seahawks have shown little interest in playing their starters this preseason, leaving Howell to handle the majority of the exhibition contests. He played a clean game Saturday and dropped a beautiful pass into the arms of Easop Winston late in the first quarter for a 23-yard touchdown. Geno Smith remains the clear starter in Seattle, but Howell has looked like a very serviceable backup.

Howell completed 16 of 27 passes for 130 yards with one touchdown and no interceptions and rushed four times for 17 yards in the Seahawks' 16-3 preseason win over the Chargers on Saturday night.

Howell drew the start with Geno Smith a healthy scratch, and the offseason arrival played until just the halfway point of the third quarter. The 2022 fifth-round pick of the Commanders led two first-half touchdown drives and also spearheaded a 14-play, 84-yard march on his last possession that ended on downs at the Chargers' two-yard line. It was a relatively solid in-game Seahawks debut for Howell, who seems to have a clear advantage over journeyman PJ Walker for the No. 2 quarterback job heading into Seattle's second preseason game next Saturday night at Tennessee.

The Commanders are sending Howell, a fourth-round draft pick and a sixth-rounder to the Seahawks in exchange for third and fifth-round draft choices, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

With Howell no longer in the mix, Washington figures to use the No. 2 overall pick in April's NFL Draft on a new franchise QB. Meanwhile, Howell -- who started all 17 of the Commanders' regular-season games in 2023 -- fills the void created by Drew Lock's departure in free agency and gives the Seahawks an alternative to incumbent No. 1 signal caller Geno Smith.

The Commanders' recent contract agreement with QB Marcus Mariota suggests Howell may be on the trade block, Greg Auman of Fox Sports reports.

The other interpretation, which seems less likely, is that the Commanders will let Howell compete with Mariota for the starting job rather than drafting a QB early this April. The team owns the No. 2 overall pick, with most reports to date suggesting Washington will select either UNC QB Drake Maye or LSU QB Jayden Daniels. There was a point in 2023 when it looked like the Commanders might have found their franchise QB, but Howell then had a 4:12 TD:INT over the final seven games of the regular season (all losses) while completing only 57.7 percent of his passes for 5.4 yards per attempt. He ended up starting all 17 games, but only because backup Jacoby Brissett suffered a hamstring injury in practice shortly after being promoted to the No. 1 spot on the depth chart. Howell should have suitors if the Commanders decide to trade him, given that he has two years left on his rookie contract and averaged 278.3 passing yards and 1.7 TDs over the first 10 games of 2023. That said, the best he can hope for is a shot t

Howell completed 19 of 27 passes for 153 yards and a touchdown with two interceptions in Sunday's 38-10 loss to the Commanders.

It was a fittingly rough end to a poor season for Washington, and Howell wraps up his first -- and possibly last -- season as the team's starting quarterback with a 21:21 TD:INT over 17 games, with the interceptions being the most in the NFL. The 2022 fifth-round selection is expected to get serious competition for the starting job in the offseason, likely from whoever the Commanders select with the second overall pick in the 2024 Draft, and Howell is likely to head into Week 1 of next year in the No. 2 spot on the depth chart.

Coach Ron Rivera said Wednesday that Howell will start Sunday's season finale against the Cowboys, Nicki Jhabvala of The Washington Post reports.

Howell was expected to be benched Week 17 but was pressed into action when Jacoby Brissett (hamstring) sat out. The second-year quarterback's struggles continued in the 27-10 loss to San Francisco, and Howell has a putrid 3:10 TD:INT over his last six starts, but Washington will stick with him against Dallas. Given his poor finish to the season, Howell will likely face competition for the starting role next season, but he'll get one more opportunity to help his case Sunday against a motivated Cowboys team that would clinch the NFC East title with a win.

Howell completed 17 of 28 passes for 169 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions in Sunday's 27-10 loss to the 49ers.

After the Commanders announced that Howell would be benched early in the week, he was forced into the starting role with Jacoby Brissett (hamstring) sidelined. He struggled in a tough matchup, averaging only 6.0 yards per attempt while turning the ball over twice. Howell did have positive moments, as he completed three passes of at least 20 yards and also connected with Terry McLaurin for a three-yard touchdown late in the second quarter. It's unclear whether Howell will get the chance to start in Week 18 against the Cowboys, but he has now failed to throw for multiple touchdowns in six straight games.

Howell is slated to start Sunday's game against the 49ers, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

Per Rapoport, Jacoby Brissett (hamstring) is in line to be deemed inactive as the team's third QB following a pre-game workout Sunday. Howell, who was originally on track to give way to Brissett in Week 17, is thus slated to get the start, and now represents a fantasy lineup option for those in need of signal-caller help this week.

Howell would start Sunday's game against the 49ers if Jacoby Brissett (hamstring) -- who is listed as questionable -- doesn't play, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

Brissett was added to the injury report Friday due to hamstring tightness. Howell started Washington's first 15 games of the season but was set to move to a backup role after being benched mid-game in each of his last two outings. If Brissett's unable to play, Howell will be back atop the depth chart without missing a start, though the second-year pro is unlikely to bounce back against the tough 49ers defense after posting a 2:8 TD:INT over his last five starts.

Coach Ron Rivera said Wednesday that Howell will not start Sunday's game against the 49ers, with Jacoby Brissett set to lead Washington's offense instead, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

Rivera said "it's a good time for [Howell] to get a break, per JP Finlay of NBC Sports Washington. It remains to be seen whether the Commanders will roll with Brissett for the rest of the regular season, or reevaluate the QB position before Week 18's finale against Dallas. Howell has struggled in his last five appearances, with just a 2:8 TD:INT ratio in that span and threw at least one INT in each contest.

Howell completed six of 22 passes for 56 yards and two interceptions before being replaced by Jacoby Brissett in the third quarter of Sunday's 30-28 loss to the Jets.

The quarterback's poor play helped put the Commanders in a 27-7 hole at halftime, and after Howell tossed his second INT of the day, coach Ron Rivera benched him for the second straight week. With Brissett having played well both times he's come on in relief, and Howell having been picked off in five straight games with a 2:8 TD:INT during that stretch, Rivera has a full-blown QB controversy on his hands heading into a Week 17 clash with the 49ers.

Howell completed 11 of 26 passes for 102 yards, one touchdown and one interception in Sunday's 28-20 loss to the Rams. He also rushed the ball three times for 22 yards.

Howell turned in his second straight horrific game as a passer, as he was limited to only 3.9 yards per attempt and displayed poor accuracy. One of the few bright spots of the performance came midway through the third quarter on a 19-yard touchdown pass to the back corner of the end zone to Curtis Samuel. Howell was ultimately benched early in the fourth quarter in favor of Jacoby Brissett, though coach Ron Rivera stated after the game that he was protecting his quarterback and that Howell would remain the team's starter moving forward, per Nicki Jhabvala of The Washington Post.

Howell completed 12 of 23 passes for 127 yards with no touchdowns and one interception in the Commanders' 45-15 loss to the Dolphins on Sunday. He also rushed four times for 21 yards and two scores.

The much-anticipated aerial duel between Howell and Tua Tagovailoa turned out highly one-sided in favor of Miami's star quarterback, with Howell finishing with his lowest passing yardage of the campaign. Howell also failed to complete 50.0 percent of his passes for the first time, while his one- and 13-yard touchdown runs pushed his season total to four, with all of those touchdowns coming in the last three games. Howell and the Commanders air attack will have a more palatable matchup in front of them -- including with respect to weather -- in a Week 15 road matchup against the Rams following a Week 14 bye.

Howell completed 28 of 44 passes for 300 yards and an interception while adding 13 rushing yards and a touchdown on two carries in Thursday's 45-10 loss to the Cowboys.

The second-year quarterback played relatively mistake-free ball until a desperation drive late in the fourth quarter ended on a pick-six by DaRon Bland. It's the fourth time in the last five games Howell has thrown for at least 300 yards, but that yardage has come on sky-high volume -- he's attempted more than 40 passes in six straight contests and eight of the last nine as the Commanders' offense tries to compensate for its porous defense. That formula doesn't figure to change much in Week 13 against the Dolphins.

Howell completed 31 of 45 passes for 255 yards, one touchdown and three interceptions in Sunday's 31-19 loss to the Giants. He added three rushes for 35 yards and an additional touchdown.

Howell continued to take to the air at a prolific rate, as he's now topped 40 pass attempts in five consecutive games. Unlike the last three contests, however, production didn't follow. Instead, Howell averaged only 5.7 yards per attempt and threw multiple picks for the first time since Week 3 -- the final of which was returned for a touchdown to put the game out of reach for the Commanders. Positively, Howell reached the end zone on the ground on a tough seven-yard run, during which he bounced off several defenders. That salvaged an otherwise forgettable performance from a fantasy perspective.

Howell completed 29 of 44 pass attempts for 312 yards and three touchdowns (no turnovers) while adding 17 rushing yards on two attempts in Sunday's 29-26 loss to the Seahawks.

Howell's midseason surge continued with his third consecutive 300-yard passing performance and fourth overall through 10 starts this year. The sophomore starer has generated eight touchdowns to two turnovers over his voluminous three-game stretch, effectively cooling off his seat following an inconsistent start to the campaign. Howell will ride his personal hot streak into a favorable matchup against the Giants next Sunday.

Howell completed 29 of 45 passes for 325 yards, one touchdown and one interception in Sunday's 20-17 win over New England. He added five rushing attempts for 27 yards.

Howell threw for 176 yards in the first half but had an ugly interception in the end zone on 1st-and-goal in the final seconds before halftime, leading to a 14-10 halftime deficit. He threw a 33-yard touchdown to Jahan Dotson to tie the score at 17 apiece in the third quarter. Howell moved the offense effectively and averaged 7.2 yards per pass while Patriots quarterback Mac Jones had just 220 yards on 44 pass attempts (5.0 Y/A). After throwing for 300-plus yards only once in his first eight NFL starts, Howell has hit that mark in each of his last two outings heading into a Week 10 trip to Seattle.

Howell completed 39 of 52 passes for 397 yards with four touchdowns and one interception in the Commanders' 38-31 loss to the Eagles on Sunday. He also rushed three times for 11 yards and committed a fumble that was recovered by Washington.

Howell ironically enjoyed a career-best day in defeat, with both his yardage and touchdown totals serving as new single-game highs for the second-year signal-caller. Howell impressively spread the ball around to nine different targets, connecting with Terry McLaurin, Jahan Dotson, Logan Thomas and Jamison Crowder for touchdown tosses of 26, 21, seven and 26 yards, respectively. However, Howell was unable to keep up with Jalen Hurts and his air attack in the fourth quarter, when Philadelphia outscored Washington by a 21-14 margin. Howell nevertheless should draw plenty of confidence from nearly knocking off the defending NFC champions for a second time this season and will next face the Patriots on the road in a Week 9 matchup.

Coach Ron Rivera said Monday he is committed to Howell as the Commanders' starter but left the door open for a change at some point in 2023, Nicki Jhabvala of The Washington Post reports.

After starting the season 2-0 with wins over the Cardinals and Broncos, the Commanders have dropped four of their last five, and Howell is on pace to absorb a record-breaking 97 sacks. The current record is 76 taken by David Carr in his 2002 rookie season with the Texans. Howell is simply holding onto the ball too long and led the Commanders to just seven points in Sunday's 14-7 loss to the Giants and backup QB Tyrod Taylor. If the losses keep piling up and Howell doesn't show improvement, Washington could turn to veteran Jacoby Brissett to stabilize the offense.

Howell completed 22 of 42 passes for 249 yards with an interception in Sunday's 14-7 loss to the Giants.

He also picked up 15 rushing yards on two carries. The second-year QB took another beating in the pocket, getting sacked six times, and while Howell had a little more success in the second half, he still failed to throw a TD for the second time in seven starts this season. Howell's been sacked 40 times already in 2023, putting him on pace to set a new NFL record, and the Commanders will need to solve their protection issues soon if the team doesn't want to stunt the young quarterback's development -- the current holder of the record is Derek Carr's older brother David, the first overall pick in the 2002 draft who never really recovered after being sacked 76 times as a rookie. Howell faces an even more dangerous Eagles front seven in Week 8.

Howell completed 14 of 23 passes for 151 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions. He also rushed four times for three yards.

Howell's passing yardage total certainly wasn't anything to write home about, but he more than made up for it with his trio of scoring tosses. Two of those went to running backs, as Howell connected with Antonio Gibson (one yard) and Brian Robinson (24 yards) in the second and third quarters, respectively, sandwiching those touchdown throws around a seven-yard strike to Curtis Samuel. Howell now has a 5:1 TD:INT over his last two games and draws a favorable matchup against the Giants on the road in Week 7.

Howell completed 37 of 51 passes for 388 yards with two touchdowns and one interception in the Commanders' 40-20 loss to the Bears on Thursday night. He also rushed four times for 19 yards and recorded a two-point conversion rush.

Howell's career-best passing yardage total was largely the byproduct of game script, considering the Commanders were down 27-3 by halftime. Naturally, it was still a welcome sight to fantasy managers, and with his two- and three-yard touchdown passes to Logan Thomas and Curtis Samuel, respectively, Howell generated the second multi-touchdown day of his nascent career. The 2022 fifth-round pick also took five sacks, however, as the Bears' ability to jump out to a 24-point lead by halftime led to Chicago being able to largely focus on slowing down the air attack. Howell and his teammates now have some extra time to regroup after consecutive losses before a Week 6 road matchup against the Falcons on Sunday, Oct. 15.

Howell completed 29 of 41 passes for 290 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 34-31 overtime loss to the Eagles. He added 40 rushing yards on six carries.

After a brutal four-INT performance the week before against the Bills, Howell was much sharper in Week 4 and led two fourth-quarter touchdown drives to tie the game twice, ending the second one with a 10-yard TD strike to Jahan Dotson as time expired. Howell will take plenty of confidence into a Week 5 home tilt against a Bears defense that just blew a 21-7 halftime lead against the Broncos.

Howell completed 19 of 29 passes for 170 yards with no touchdowns and four interceptions in the Commanders' 37-3 loss to the Bills on Sunday. He also rushed once for 18 yards.

The second-year signal-caller came into the day having helped the Commanders to a 2-0 record and with just one interception on his 2023 ledger, but both his and the team's fortunes took a drastic turn Sunday. Buffalo's relentless defense took Howell down a whopping nine times while holding him to 5.9 yards per attempt, and two of his four picks led to a combined 10 points for the Bills. Howell's yardage total was also a season low, but he'll have to quickly recover from Sunday's physical and psychological grind considering the Eagles defense now awaits in a Week 4 road matchup.

Howell completed 27 of 39 pass attempts for 299 yards and two touchdowns while adding 13 rushing yards on two attempts in Sunday's 35-33 win over Denver.

Howell and the Commanders were down 21-3 early in this contest, but the quarterback stayed poised and help lead his team to victory. The 2022 fifth-round pick has thrown for 501 yards with four combined touchdowns and one interception while going undefeated in his first two starts with Washington this season. Howell will look to continue his early success against the Bills next Sunday.

Howell completed 19 of 31 passes for 202 yards with a touchdown and an interception in Sunday's 20-16 win over the Cardinals. He added 11 rushing yards and a TD on two carries.

The second-year quarterback got sacked six times and lost a fumble that resulted in an Arizona touchdown, and a late hit from linebacker Kyzir White briefly knocked Howell out of the game in the first quarter, but he wound up getting his revenge early in the fourth when he put the Commanders ahead for good with a six-yard TD scramble. It wasn't the most auspicious start to the season for the Washington offense under new coordinator Eric Bieniemy, and Howell will face a potentially tough test in Week 2 on the road against Patrick Surtain and the Broncos.

Howell and most other starters will be held out of Saturday's preseason finale against the Bengals, Matthew Paras of The Washington Times reports.

The long list of players sitting out includes RBs Brian Robinson and Antonio Gibson and WRs Terry McLaurin (toe), Jahan Dotson and Curtis Samuel. With the Commanders using their final preseason game to focus on back-end roster spots, Howell and Co. can soon turn their focus to a Week 1 home game against the Cardinals. McLaurin's availability is one of the big questions for that game.

Howell completed 19 of 25 passes for 188 yards and two touchdowns in Monday's preseason game against Baltimore, adding three carries for 17 yards.

Three days after being named the Week 1 starter, Howell led the Washington first unit to 17 points on four drives while playing the entire first half against Baltimore's second/third-string defenders. He played well even considering the soft competition, though he also showed some of the bad in his scouting report when took a 13-yard sack on a 2nd-and-2 after needlessly bailing from a relatively clean pocket. Howell bounced back with a 16-yard dart to TE Cole Turner on the next snap, leading Washington to an opening-drive field goal before adding second-quarter TD passes to RB Antonio Gibson and WR Dyami Brown. The biggest negative was WR Terry McLaurin exiting in the second quarter with a toe injury, though it may not end up being a big deal given that X-rays came back negative, per Nicki Jhabvala of The Washington Post. The prolonged playing time Monday likely means Howell and other starters will be rested for their preseason finale Saturday against the Bengals, leaving a 20-day gap before a favorable Week

Coach Ron Rivera told Lisa Salters of ESPN before Monday's preseason game against the Ravens that Howell will "probably see a good half" of action, Ben Standig of The Athletic reports.

Just three days removed from Rivera announcing Howell as the Commanders' starting quarterback for the 2023 season, he'll still get a decent amount of run in the team's second exhibition. This follows the 2022 fifth-round pick working three series in the preseason opener at Cleveland, where he completed nine of 12 passes for 77 yards and one touchdown. It's unclear if stalwarts like WRs Terry McLaurin and Jahan Dotson and RBs Brian Robinson and Antonio Gibson will stay on the field as long as Howell, but he'll likely be afforded at least a series or two with the quartet.

Coach Ron Rivera announced Friday that Howell has been named the Commanders' starting quarterback, Zach Selby of the team's official site reports.

Howell will thus draw the nod in the Commanders' regular-season opener against the Cardinals, with veteran signal-caller Jacoby Brissett set to work as his top backup. In addition to confirming Howell as the team's Week 1 starter, Rivera also relayed that the 2022 fifth-rounder will play in Monday night's preseason contest against the Ravens, JP Finlay of NBC Sports Washington reports.

Howell completed nine of 12 passes for 77 yards and a touchdown in Friday's preseason win over the Browns. He also gained eight yards on his only carry.

The Commanders' first two possessions ended in a punt and a safety due to a holding penalty in the end zone, but Howell got the offense rolling on his third and final drive, capping it off with a 26-yard TD strike to Jahan Dotson. The second-year quarterback remains on track to take over the starting role this season, and Howell holds some deep-league fantasy appeal given his solid receiving corps and the possibility that new coordinator Eric Bieniemy can recreate even a fraction of the success he had in Kansas City.

Howell will start Friday's preseason game versus the Browns, JP Finlay of NBC Sports Washington reports.

Howell gets the start over Jacoby Brissett, but it's unclear how long either of them will play. A 2022 second-round pick, Howell is on track to open 2023 as a full-time starter, but he could still benefit from getting extended snaps in a game setting. In his lone start as a rookie, the North Carolina product completed 58 percent of his passes for 169 yards, a touchdown and an interception during a Week 18 win over Dallas.

Head coach Ron Rivera said Tuesday that Howell has taken all the first-team reps this offseason, Matthew Paras of The Washington Times reports.

While Howell has the early lead to begin 2023 as a starter, Rivera still considers it to be an open competition between the second-year quarterback and veteran Jacoby Brissett. Howell had a strong preseason as a rookie but posted mixed results in his lone regular-season start against the Cowboys in Week 18. He completed 58 percent of his passes for 169 yards, a touchdown and an interception while rushing five times for 35 yards and an additional score. If he can hold onto the starting job, Howell's mobility combined with Washington's talented wideout corps could make the 2022 fifth-round pick an intriguing option late in fantasy drafts.

Howell is expected to enter the offseason program as Washington's top quarterback but could face competition from free-agent signing Jacoby Brissett, Zach Selby of the Commanders' official website reports.

Brissett is a solid backup, but it's good news for Howell if this is the only significant competition brought in during the offseason. The Commanders could still draft a quarterback, of course, but they seem to be high on their 2022 fifth-round pick after his strong showing last preseason and solid outing Week 18 against the Cowboys. While not exactly fleet of foot, the densely built Howell (6-1, 220) ran for 828 yards and 11 TDs his final season at UNC, then had 94 rushing yards last preseason and 35 yards and a TD in his lone regular-season appearance. The mobility should keep him in QB2 range, at least, if he holds on to the top spot on the depth chart, and he'll also benefit from a talented WR room featuring Terry McLaurin, Jahan Dotson and Curtis Samuel (assuming Samuel isn't a cap casualty this offseason; a move that would save Washington around $10.5 million).

Washington head coach Ron Rivera said Wednesday that Howell will be the "quarterback to beat" during the offseason program, John Keim of ESPN.com reports.

A 2022 fifth-round pick, Howell was a healthy scratch for the majority of his rookie season, but he served as Washington's starting signal-caller Week 18 against the Cowboys, completing 11 of 19 passes for 169 yards, one touchdown and one interception while taking five carries for 35 yards and another score in a 26-6 win. Considering Rivera's comments, the Commanders don't seem poised to make a big offseason splash at quarterback this offseason after bringing on Carson Wentz last March. While Wentz is under contract for 2023, the team can move on from him without any dead-cap hit. As for the other quarterbacks on Washington's 2022 roster, Taylor Heinicke will be an unrestricted free agent this offseason, so if the team cuts Wentz, Howell's only competition for reps this spring and summer will be Jake Fromm, barring further additions to the group.

Coach Ron Rivera said Wednesday that Howell will be the "quarterback to beat" during the offseason program, John Keim of ESPN.com reports.

A 2022 fifth-round pick, Howell was a healthy scratch for the majority of his rookie season, but he served as Washington's starting QB in Week 18 against the Cowboys, completing 11 of 19 passes for 169 yards, one touchdown and one interception while taking five carries for 35 yards and another score in a 26-6 win. Considering Rivera's comments, the Commanders don't seem poised to make a big offseason splash at signal-caller this offseason after bringing on Carson Wentz last March. While Wentz is under contract for 2023, the team can move on from him without any dead-cap hit. As for Washington's other 2022 quarterbacks, Taylor Heinicke will be an unrestricted free agent this offseason, so if the team cuts Wentz, Howell's only competition for reps this spring and summer will be Jake Fromm, barring further additions to the group.

Howell completed 11 of 19 passes for 169 yards and a touchdown with an interception in Sunday's 26-6 win over the Cowboys. He added 35 rushing yards and a TD on five carries.

The rookie quarterback tossed a bad red-zone pick early in the second quarter when the outcome of the game was still in doubt, but otherwise Howell was solid in his first career NFL start, hitting Terry McLaurin for his first passing TD in the first quarter and then running one in from nine yards out in the third. Carson Wentz has no more guaranteed money remaining on his current contract and is a candidate to be released, and Taylor Heinicke is a free agent in the offseason, so Howell could well find himself the starting QB for Washington to begin the 2023 campaign if the team doesn't pursue an established veteran.

Howell will start Sunday's game against the Cowboys, Nicki Jhabvala of The Washington Post reports.

Coach Ron Rivera made the announcement Wednesday afternoon, naming Taylor Heinicke as the backup while Carson Wentz figures to be a healthy scratch. Howell, a fifth-round rookie, completed 62.3 percent of his passes for 7.8 YPA this preseason, and a strong showing Sunday could help him get consideration for the Week 1 starting job in 2023.

Howell is slated to dress as the Commanders' backup quarterback behind Taylor Heinicke in Sunday's game against the Cowboys and is expected to get the chance to play his first NFL snaps, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com reports.

While Carson Wentz was on injured reserve from Weeks 7 through 12, Howell had served as the top backup, but he didn't see any game action behind Heinicke. However, with the 7-8-1 Commanders having now been eliminated from the playoffs after suffering a 24-10 loss to the Browns this past Sunday in Wentz's return to the starting lineup, head coach Ron Rivera appears prepared to drop Wentz to third on the depth chart in order to get an evaluation on Howell in the No. 2 role. It's unclear when the Commanders plan on having Howell enter the game in relief of Heinicke or if the two quarterbacks will alternate series, but the rookie fifth-round pick out of North Carolina looks like he'll finally get the opportunity to showcase his skills to some extent, thereby allowing the Commanders to get an evaluation on him before the 2022 season comes to a close.

Howell (coach's decision) has been deemed inactive ahead of Sunday's game against the Giants.

Howell was ruled a healthy scratch in each game before stepping up as the Commanders' No. 2 quarterback behind Taylor Heinicke since Week 7. However, previous starter Carson Wentz (finger) is now set to take over the team's backup duties after being activated from IR on Monday. Barring additional injury to Wentz and/or Heinicke, it's likely Howell will remain sidelined for the foreseeable future.

Howell will step up as the Commanders' primary backup, with Taylor Heinicke set to start Sunday versus the Packers in place of Carson Wentz (finger), Ben Standigof The Athletic reports.

Howell has been inactive through the first six weeks of the season, but the rookie second-round pick will get a chance to suit up as the No. 2 option behind Heinicke for the time being. Though the Commanders haven't provided an official timetable for Wentz, it looks as though he could be in line to miss multiple weeks after undergoing surgery to repair a fractured ring finger. Howell put together solid performances during the preseason, and he could have a path to playing time if Heinicke struggles or misses any time himself.

Howell (coach's decision) is inactive Sunday against the Jaguars.

Howell is currently behind starter Carson Wentz and No. 2 quarterback, Taylor Heinicke on the team's positional depth chart. The rookie will need an injury, or to make further strides throughout the season to crack the active roster on gameday.

Howell completed 24 of 35 passes for 280 yards and a touchdown in Saturday's 17-15 preseason loss to Baltimore, adding eight carries for 62 yards.

Howell played the entire game and took five sacks, but mostly he played well, finishing the preseason 43-of-69 passing (62.3 percent) for 527 yards (7.8 YPA), one touchdown and one interception. The fifth-round pick figures to enter his rookie season as a third-stringer, but there's a path to playing time by the end of the year given that Washington's other QBs are Carson Wentz and Taylor Heinicke.

Howell will start Saturday's preseason game at Baltimore, Pete Hailey of NBC Sports Washington reports.

Carson Wentz, the Commanders' presumed starter for 2022, will not play. Howell was Washington's leading passer in Week 2 of the preseason at Kansas City despite completing just 55.6% of his passes, and he could solidify a spot on the initial 53-man roster with a sound performance Saturday. The Commanders might also just opt to keep three quarterbacks though, especially with Wentz's lengthy injury history in mind.

The Commanders selected Howell in the fifth round of the 2022 NFL Draft, 144th overall.

Howell, like many of the 2022 rookie quarterbacks, slid further than many assumed, but he lands in an intriguing spot with the Commanders. A three-year starter at North Carolina, Howell is hardly a dynamic athlete out of the pocket, but he's mobile enough to extend plays at times and can make every throw at the NFL level. Given that the uninspiring duo of Carson Wentz and Taylor Heinicke sits above Howell on the depth chart, the 21-year-old could be in position to compete for a starting job in the near future provided he's able to develop and clean up his mechanics in Washington.