On paper, Commanders quarterback Sam Howell has the kind of college résumé that seemingly should have preceded him entering the NFL.
As a freshman at North Carolina in 2019, Howell threw 38 touchdowns against seven interceptions. As a sophomore in 2020, he steered the Tar Heels to an Orange Bowl berth. It took him just three years to become the third-leading passer in ACC history.
However, Washington coach Ron Rivera admitted to Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer on Monday that even he was taken by surprise when the fifth-round draft pick delivered a rock-solid performance against the Cowboys in last year's season finale.
“You can ask [my wife] Stephanie, all we f---ing talked about was the quarterback, what the quarterback did, who he was,” Rivera said. “I kept saying, ‘F---, if I would have known this, I would have played him sooner.’”
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The Commanders spent much of last season deploying veterans Carson Wentz and Taylor Heinicke at the quarterback position, to middling results. After handing Howell the reins on Jan. 8, Washington won 26-6, spearheaded by 169 yards and a touchdown from the rookie.
“When you only have so much time to show it, it’s hard. I kept thinking, ‘God’ … but after that game, everything told me this kid, give him the opportunity and see what he does with it,” Rivera said.
Rivera named Howell the starter for the Commanders’ Sept. 10 opener against the Cardinals on Aug. 18.
