Commanders to stick with Howell as starter
INGLEWOOD, Calif. – Jacoby Brissett provided a spark that the Washington Commanders' offense has been lacking the past few weeks.
Despite that, coach Ron Rivera said after Sunday's 28-20 loss to the Los Angeles Rams that Sam Howell will remain the starting quarterback.
The Commanders (4-10) have dropped five straight and were officially eliminated from playoff contention with Sunday's loss. Howell had his worst game of the season. He went 11 of 26 for 102 yards with one touchdown and an interception.
In the past two games, Howell is 23 of 49 for just 229 yards.
“If we knew what the issue was we'd fix it. We have to execute better and it starts with me,” Howell said. “All we can control is how we move on from this point and finish the year.”
Howell was pulled after being intercepted by John Johnson early in the fourth quarter. Rivera said the main reason he pulled the second-year quarterback was to avoid further hits from Los Angeles' defense.
Howell has been sacked a leagueleading 59 times in 14 games, including once by the Rams.
“Just wanted to take care of him a little bit,” Rivera said. “In a situation with their ears pulled back like that, I didn't want to see anything crazy.”
Brissett came in with 9:05 remaining and directed two scoring drives. The eighth-year quarterback, who has started 48 games in his career, completed eight of 10 passes for 124 yards and two touchdowns.
It was only the second game in which Brissett has seen action this season. He took three snaps – all handoffs – late in the fourth quarter of a 45-15 loss to Miami two weeks ago.