The Commanders made it official on Friday, naming second-year quarterback Sam Howell as their starting quarterback for the 2023 season. Head coach Ron Rivera made the announcement at a press conference early Friday morning.
“He’s basically met the challenges we’ve talked about,” Rivera said, via Matthew Paras of the Washington Times. “We’ve been very pleased with him.”
Washington drafted Howell out of North Carolina in the fifth round of the 2022 draft and sat him for most of his rookie season. However, Howell started the final game of the season, throwing for 169 yards, with a touchdown and an interception in a win against the Cowboys.
Sam Howell has been named the starting quarterback pic.twitter.com/XOfZu8mBxH
— Washington Commanders (@Commanders) August 18, 2023
Following the 2022 season, the Commanders seemed set on giving Howell a chance to start, so much so that it was a key part of the team’s offensive coordinator search. Washington eventually hired former Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy to the same position.
Since Kirk Cousins left in the 2018 offseason, Washington has had five different Week 1 starters, and Howell will make a sixth different quarterback under center to begin the season. Entering Rivera’s fourth season with the team, Washington is 22-27-1 under the veteran head coach with one playoff appearance.
