It is a fantastic chance. Learn from Brissett in Rivera’s choice to give Howell a chance to “take a breath,” which will also help supporters.
For the foreseeable future, at least, the starting quarterback for the Washington Commanders will be replaced.
Head coach Ron Rivera of the Commanders declared on Wednesday morning that **Sam Howell** will not start in Week 17 against the San Francisco 49ers in favor of veteran Jacoby Brissett, who has performed well in the team’s last two games. After the offense and Howell struggled against some of the finest defenses in the league for five weeks—the New York Jets defense being the most recent example—the decision was made.
Howell has made mistakes in his progress, but the Commanders still have faith in him. Rivera stated that his assessment of the quarterback’s future remains unchanged despite the events of the past month. However, he does believe that Howell will benefit from sitting out at least the team’s next game after going through the most difficult period of his developing career.
“I believe that Sam would benefit from taking a sabbatical at this time,” Rivera remarked. “This concerns Sam’s ongoing growth. Over the past few weeks, things have not gone as well as we would like for him. All we think is that this is a terrific chance for him to observe.”
It is tough to pinpoint a single element that led Rivera to bench Howell throughout the previous five weeks due to the multitude of reasons that have contributed to his troubles. It is certainly impacted by the fact that Washington is currently experiencing its most challenging period of the year. Since Thanksgiving, the Commanders’ opponents have been the Miami Dolphins (4th), Jets (3rd), and Dallas Cowboys (7th in yards allowed). The San Francisco 49ers (ranked eleventh) and the upcoming rematch with Dallas at the end of the season will not make things any easier.
It is also impossible to ignore how many times Howell has been hit—he is been sacked a league-high 60 times. He was getting the ball out of the pocket faster and rolling out of the pocket to elude pressure at one point, so it appeared like he was getting better in that area. However, it appeared as though he was running out of clean pockets against the Jets, which frequently resulted in incompletions.
Howell displayed potential in the early part of the season with his ball placement, composure in the pocket, and willingness to take long passes downfield. However, during the past month, there have been fewer instances where such qualities really stand out. Howell has been especially frustrated during the past two weeks. Against the Los Angeles Rams, he only managed 68 completed air yards, a career low. In the Jets game, he scored five.
Howell stated in the locker room, “[It was] sad, obviously, but that is what it is.” “I believe that ultimately, I just need to perform better. I am just going to do my best, keep improving over the past two weeks, watch Jacoby play, pick up as much knowledge as I can, and try to be a good teammate.”
Every player has difficult stretches from time to time. Patrick Mahomes would “see ghosts” on the field, according to Eric Bieniemy’s statement from last week, which caused him to occasionally be indecisive. With Howell, Bieniemy is witnessing some of it.
“While it is regrettable that it occurs, he must keep working through it and maintaining faith in his instincts, intuition, and all of the lessons he has been taught,” Bieniemy stated.
When Brissett replaced Howell, the Commanders’ competitiveness versus the Rams and Jets became much more evident. The system and schemes that Brissett and the team employed were the same as those that Howell was running at quarterback, but Brissett’s ability to analyze coverage, stay in the pocket, and accept what was offered to him made the unit more effective.
Brissett’s second touchdown drive against the Jets was an excellent illustration of how he managed the offense. Out of his five completions, only one managed to go more than 12 yards, and that was only because Terry McLaurin made a tackle slip, resulting in a 29-yard gain on the pass. Following the grab, Brissett gained half of his total of 100 yards for the day.
Brissett also blasted out passes to his best teammates when it was time for them to make big plays. Brissett saw right away that McLaurin had beaten his defender in man coverage on both of the catches he made in the closing minutes of the fourth quarter.
Whether Howell watches Brissett for a single game or the entire season, the Commanders think he would learn a lot about how the offense is run. Brissett signed a contract with Washington in March with the intention of being a good teammate to the rookie quarterback, and he has also been willing to give Howell that knowledge.
Part of the reason Rivera has been so impressed with Brissett is that he can mentor Howell.
“Observing the level of professionalism with which Jacoby handles things is astounding,” commented Rivera. “I believe that all we have witnessed over the past two weeks is him simply being present and studying with Sam. I genuinely believe it has benefited him as well. Jacoby seems like a really competitive player in this league.
And Howell is aware that Brissett, who has played in the NFL for eight seasons and won games as a starter, has a lot to teach him. Howell noted that it is a fantastic chance for him to see Brissett during the preparation week and gauge his demeanor.
Howell may apply any knowledge he does acquire to the advantages he has already enjoyed from being near Brissett.
Howell remarked, “He is always had my back, man.” “He is been an amazing friend and teammate, and I can not think of a finer person to be with me.”
“I believe that he has faced some setbacks at times, but he is a strong young man with a resilient game who I believe will have a bright future in our league,” Rivera remarked. “In my opinion, he is a player who can perform at a high level and play quarterback in the NFL.”
