A lot of quarterbacks have looked great in the preseason, only to melt away when teams get to the regular season and start doing things like cover up or cover up.
But Washington’s leaders should be excited about what they saw Monday night.
The Chiefs named Sam Howell their starting quarterback last week, ending a rivalry with offseason addition Jacoby Brissett. Washington had to feel it was the right call after watching Howell split the Baltimore Ravens.
In the first half, Howell was 19 of 25 for 188 yards and two touchdowns. The Leaders had 17 points at halftime against a Ravens team that takes preseason form very seriously.
No one should crown Howell based on a good half against the Ravens backup defense. But it was more than just statistics. Howell looked very relieved. He looked like a veteran going through his progression, not a sophomore with only one NFL start. And when he found an open receiver, he made powerful, accurate throws.
It’s just pre-season, but Howell has been impressive.
Howell was once considered a first-round prospect, but his draft took a huge hit during North Carolina’s final college season. He fell all the way to the fifth round, when the leaders made a smart, low-cost investment in him. Howell looked good pre-season and had a good start in Week 18 against the Dallas Cowboys last season. The leaders mostly gave Howell a clear runway to be the starting quarterback in 2023, and signed Brissett should Howell fail camp. he did not do.
Maybe Howell will switch to pumpkins when the regular season begins. But if he was injured, it would be one of the best things to happen to the Commanders in a long time.
