For the second straight week, Jacoby Brissett relieved Sam Howell under center in a Washington Commanders loss, but this time around, things were a bit more dire for Howell.
In Week 15, Howell was benched in the fourth quarter of his team’s loss to the Los Angeles Rams. But this past Sunday, the Commanders pulled Howell in the third period after he went just 6-for-22 with 56 yards and a couple of interceptions—including a pick-six—in what ended up being a defeat at the hands of the New York Jets.
To make matters worse for Howell, both times he was benched, Brissett came in and provided Washington’s offense with a spark.
After the game, Brissett told reporters that he spoke to Howell.
“I told him ‘This is going to be the hardest part of your career right now. It’s going to feel like you’re in this by yourself. It’s snowballing. It’s one thing after another, it’s one thing after another,’” Brissett said, via Josh Alper of Pro Football Talk. “But I know from being in this league, man, the good ones find a way to get to the other side. No matter how long it takes, how hard it is. You surround yourself with good people. I hope he leans on me as one of those good people that will help him get through this because I know I will.”
The Commanders trailed 27-7 to the Jets in the third quarter before Brissett entered the game and orchestrated three touchdown drives to give his team a 28-27 lead before New York ultimately won on a late field goal. Brissett went 10-for-13 with 100 yards and a touchdown. Last week, Brissett went 8-for-10 with 124 yards and a pair of scores.
Meanwhile, Howell’s future as Washington’s quarterback may be in jeopardy.
Through 15 games this season, Howell has thrown for 3,624 yards, 19 touchdowns and a league-worst 17 interceptions while completing 63.2 percent of his passes and posting a passer rating of 80.5.
Howell, who played his collegiate football at the University of North Carolina, was selected by the Commanders in the fifth round of the 2022 NFL Draft.
The 23-year-old made one start for Washington during his rookie campaign.
Sam Howell and the Commanders are 4-10 and will take on the San Francisco 49ers next week before battling the Dallas Cowboys to wrap up the regular season.
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