Rookie fifth-round pick Sam Howell appears set for an audition as the Washington Commanders continue to shuffle the deck at quarterback.
Multiple reports Wednesday indicate Carson Wentz, who started last week after Taylor Heinicke played in nine games while Wentz recovered from a broken bone in his hand, will be inactive for Week 18 when the Commanders welcome the Dallas Cowboys.
Heinicke and Howell are expected to share QB duties, per reports.
Howell last played in the preseason finale, taking every snap against the Baltimore Ravens, and has drawn high praise from head coach Ron Rivera.
“Well, he has a bright future in this league,” Rivera said in August. “He has a lot of growing to do. I know [offensive coordinator Scott Turner and quarterbacks coach Ken Zampese] will go through this with a fine-tooth comb and emphasize the things that he could’ve done better.”
Washington quarterbacks have combined for 23 touchdowns, 15 interceptions and have been sacked 45 times in 2022.
Wentz threw three interceptions and completed 16 of 28 passes for 143 yards in a loss to the Browns last week. Rivera picked Wentz for the start after weighing whether to stick with Heinicke, who had only one turnover and a combined passer rating of 105 in his previous three games.
The Commanders traded for Wentz after Heinicke led the team in passing in 2021 with 3,419 yards, 20 touchdowns and 15 interceptions.
Given the run of stopgap solutions, another spin on the QB carousel appears imminent for the Commanders, unless Howell proves a draft steal and nails down the job.
Alex Smith led Washington in passing yards and attempts in 2020. It was Case Keenum in 2019, Smith in 2018 and Kirk Cousins (2017, 2016).
–Field Level Media