By R.L. Bynum
Sam Howell couldn’t have started his NFL career much better. His first professional pass in a regular-season game went for a 16-yard touchdown play.
More importantly, he led the Washington Commanders to a 26–6 home victory Sunday over their rival Dallas Cowboys and was given the game ball from Coach Ron Rivera after the game.
“Overall, it was just fun to get out there and play football again and get the win,” said Howell, who grew up a Cowboys fan. “It probably didn’t hit me until I ran out there on the field first. But I just said a quick prayer and just tried to stay in a moment and take it one play at a time.”
Howell connected on 11 of 19 passes for 169 yards with one interception for an 83.0 passer rating, and ran five times for 35 yards and a touchdown. He became the first rookie Washington quarterback to throw and run for a score since Robert Griffin III in 2012.
“It is about the QB making plays they’re supposed to make and, every now and then when you need a big play, make a big play,” Rivera said. “That’s what we need to get to.”
The fifth-round draft pick did that with a 52-yard completion to Terry McLaurin on the last play of the third quarter. That led to a 29-yard Joey Slye field goal to push the Commanders’ lead to 23–6. McLaurin also caught the touchdown pass in the first quarter.
“The ball literally walked into my hands,” McLaurin said, adding that Howell “makes some throws that make you say wow.”
Rivera said he saw the same player he saw at Carolina and that he delivered the ball on time and had good anticipation.
“He’ll definitely be a quarterback [on the team],” said Rivera, who didn’t say whether he saw him as a starter. “I won’t give you a number at this point.”
Howell said he’s not worried about his situation, knowing he’s the only quarterback under contract with Washington for next season.
“All I can do is control what I can control,” he said. “I know there’s probably a lot of decisions to be made. But I’m just gonna go to work and just try to become the best player I can and come back here better than I left. And so I don’t know what the situation would be, but you know, whatever it is. I’ll be ready for it. And I’ll come back ready to play.”
McLaurin was impressed with Howell’s postgame speech (the video is in the below tweet).
“For a rookie to get his first start against a team like that and to play the way he did, overcome some adversity and then give a speech — I’ve heard some good speeches, but not from a young guy like that,” he said.
McLaurin said that he regretted throwing the ball into the stands after the first touchdown. Howell signed a football two minutes after his first career touchdown pass to help the team negotiate with the fan to get it back.
Washington quarterback Carson Wentz let Howell’s family use his suite in the Commanders’ stadium.
Washington (8–8–1) ended a four-game winless streak to avoid its third consecutive losing season.
Dyami Brown saw limited action off the Washington bench, with eight offensive snaps. He notched a tackle on punt coverage on one of his nine special-teams snaps.
Giovani Bernard had a season-high seven carries and 28 rushing yards in Tampa Bay’s 30–17 victory at Atlanta to end the season for Coach Arthur Smith’s Falcons at 7–10. Jalen Dalton wasn’t active for the game for Atlanta.
Interim coach Jeff Saturday’s Indianapolis Colts finished the season with seven consecutive losses after they beat the Las Vegas Raiders in Saturday’s debut. The Colts lost 32–31 to the Houston Texans to finish 4–12–1.
For the Texans, M.J. Stewart Jr. had four tackles, a special-teams assist and a fumble recovery in 45 total snaps. Offensive lineman Charlie Heck played four special-teams snaps.
Michael Carter started in the New York Jets’ 11–6 Sunday victory over Miami, rushing four yards on three carries and catching two passes for a net gain of one yard with a six-yard reception. He played 18 total snaps compared to 17 for former N.C. State running back Bam Knight, who ran for 22 yards on 12 carries.
Ty Chandler had six carries for 20 yards in Minnesota’s 29–13 win at Chicago in 12 offensive snaps.
Tomon Fox had four tackles, one for a loss, and a special-teams tackle in the New York Giants’ 22–16 loss at Philadelphia. He played all 73 defensive snaps and 17 snaps on special teams.
The Eagles’ Robert Quinn returned after a stint on injured reserve with a knee injury and had no statistics in 18 defensive snaps.
In the Las Vegas Raiders’ 31–13 Saturday home loss to Kansas City, Mack Hollins had two catches for 15 yards.
James Hurst started at left tackle and played all 60 offensive snaps for New Orleans in the Saints’ 20–7 loss to the Carolina Panthers.
Andre Smith had one special-teams tackle and one special-teams assist in 10 special-teams snaps during Tennessee’s 20–16 Saturday loss at Jacksonville.
Mitchell Trubisky didn’t play in the Pittsburgh Steelers’ season-ending 28–14 home win over Cleveland.
British Brooks, Houston Texans running back
Age 25 | 5–11, 225 | second NFL season | UNC 2018–23
Roster situation — Fifth-string running back
Season statistics —10 games, 4 carries, 15 yards (9 longest); 5 special-teams tackles, 4 special-teams assists
Week 16 — 4:25 Sunday vs. Las Vegas Raiders, CBS
Week 17 — 4:30 Saturday at Los Angeles Chargers, NFL Network
Dyami Brown, Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver
Age 25 | 6–0, 195 | fifth NFL season | UNC 2018–20
Roster situation — Starting wide receiver
Season statistics — 14 games, 7 starts, 22 catches, 212 yards (39 longest), 9.9 average, 1 TD, 1 fumble (lost); 5 carries, 26 yards (9 longest); 4 kickoff returns, 106 yards (31 longest)
Week 16 — 4:05 Sunday at Denver, Fox
Week 17 — 1 p.m. Sunday at Indianapolis, Fox
Michael Carter, Arizona Cardinals running back
Age 26 | 5–8, 201 | fifth NFL season | UNC 2017–20
Roster situation — Fourth-string running back
Season statistics — 10 games, 2 starts, 67 carries, 221 yards (11 longest), 1 touchdown; 28 catches on 30targets, 232 yards (18 longest); 1 kickoff return, 27 yards; 1 tackle
Week 16 — 4:05 Sunday vs. Atlanta, Fox
Week 17 — 1 p.m. Sunday at Cincinnati, Fox
Josh Downs, Indianapolis Colts wide receiver
Age 23 | 5–9, 171 | third NFL season | UNC 2020–22
Roster situation — Starting slot wide receiver
Season statistics — 13 games, 8 starts, 47 catches, 406 yards (34 longest), 4 touchdowns; 5 punt returns, 55 yards; 1 tackle
Week 16 — 8:15 Monday vs. San Francisco, ABC, ESPN
Week 17 — 1 p.m. Sunday vs. Jacksonville, Fox
Cedric Gray, Tennessee Titans linebacker
Age 22 | 6–2, 234 | second NFL season | UNC 2020–23
Roster situation — Starting left inside linebacker
Season statistics — 14 games, 14 starts, 82 tackles, 57 assists, 6 tackles for losses, 1 sack for 7 yards, 3 passes defended, 2 quarterback pressures, 1 quarterback hit, 2 special-teams tackles, 2 fumble recoveries
Week 16 — 1 p.m. Sunday vs. Kansas City, CBS
Week 17 — 1 p.m. Sunday vs. New Orleans, CBS
Omarion Hampton, Los Angeles Chargers running back
Age 22 | 6–0, 220 | rookie NFL season | UNC 2022–24
Roster situation — No. 2 running back
Season statistics — 7 games, 5 starts, 94 carries, 431 yards (54 longest), 2 touchdowns; 23 catches, 151 yards (22 longest), 1 touchdown; 1 fumble recovery
Week 16 — 1 p.m. Sunday at Dallas, Fox
Week 17 — 4:30 Saturday vs. Houston Texans, NFL Network
Charlie Heck, Tampa Bay Bucs offensive lineman
Age 28 | 6–8, 311 | sixth NFL season | UNC 2015–19
Roster situation — Backup right tackle behind Luke Goedeke
Season statistics — 15 games, 1 tackle; 694 offensive snaps, 58 special-teams snaps
Week 16 — 1 p.m. Sunday at Carolina, Fox
Week 17 — 1 p.m. Sunday at Miami, Fox
Cole Holcomb, Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker
Age 28 | 6–1, 240 | seventh NFL season | UNC 2015–18
Roster situation — Second-string right inside linebacker
Season statistics — 11 games, 3 starts, 19 tackles, 11 assists, 1 forced fumble, 5 special-teams tackles, 2 special-teams assists
Week 16 — 4:25 Sunday at Detroit, CBS
Week 17 — 1 p.m. Sunday at Cleveland, CBS
Mack Hollins, New England Patriots wide receiver
Age 31 | 6–4, 221 | ninth NFL season | UNC 2013–16
Roster situation — Starting wide receiver
Season statistics — 14 games, 10 starts, 39 catches, 481 yards (54 longest), 2 touchdowns; 1 carry, 4 yards; 1 tackle
Week 16 — 8:20 Sunday at Baltimore, NBC
Week 17 — 1 p.m. Sunday at New York Jets, Fox
Sam Howell, Philadelphia Eagles quarterback
Age 24 | 6–1, 225 | fourth NFL season | UNC 2019–21
Roster situation — Third-string quarterback
2024 season statistics (Seattle Seahawks); hasn’t played this season — 2 games, 5 of 14, 24 yards, 1 interception, 14.6 passer rating; 1 carry, 2 yards
Week 16 — 5 p.m. Saturday at Washington, Fox
Week 17 — 4:25 Sunday vs. Philadelphia, Fox
Mike Hughes, Atlanta Falcons cornerback
Age 28 | 5–10, 191 | eighth NFL season | UNC 2015
Roster situation — Starting right cornerback
Season statistics — 11 games, 11 starts, 32 tackles, 9 assists, 4 passes defended, 2 tackles for losses; 1 interception
Week 16 — 4:05 Sunday at Arizona, Fox
Week 17 — 8:15 Monday vs. Los Angeles Reams, ESPN
Drake Maye, New England Patriots quarterback
Age 22 | 6–4, 225 | second NFL season | UNC 2021–23
Roster situation —-Starting QB ahead of Joshua Dobbs
Season statistics — 14 games, 14 starts, 290 of 409, 3,567 (8.7 average; 72 longest), 70.9%, 23 touchdowns, 6 interceptions, 43 sacks (194 yards in losses), 109.1 passer rating; 85 carries, 362 yards (28 longest), 4 touchdowns; 1 two-point conversion run; 6 fumbles (2 lost, 1 recovered)
Week 16 — 8:20 Sunday at Baltimore, NBC
Week 17 — 1 p.m. Sunday at New York Jets, Fox
Asim Richards, New Orleans Saints offensive lineman
Age 24 | 6–4, 307 | third NFL season | UNC 2019–22
Roster situation — Second-string left tackle
Season statistics — 13 games, 4 starts, 295 offensive snaps, 42 special-teams snaps
Week 16 — 1 p.m. Sunday vs. New York Jets, CBS
Week 17 — 1 p.m. Sunday at Tennessee, CBS
Mitch Trubisky, Buffalo Bills quarterback
Age 30 | 6–3, 222 | ninth NFL season | UNC 2014–16
Roster situation — Second-string QB behind Josh Allen
Season statistics — 3 games, 3 of 6, 54 yards; 4 carries, 1 yard
Week 16 — 1 p.m. Sunday at Cleveland, CBS
Week 17 — 4:25 Sunday vs. Philadelphia, Fox
Tez Walker, Baltimore Ravens wide receiver
Age 24 | 6–1, 198 | second NFL season | UNC 2023
Roster situation — Third-string wide receiver
Season statistics — 8 games, 2 startes, 4 catches, 90 yards, 2 touchdowns, 2 special-teams assists
Week 16 — 8:20 Sunday vs. New England, NBC
Week 17 — 8 p.m. Saturday at Green Bay, Peacock
Javonte Williams, Dallas Cowboys running back
Age 25 | 5–10, 220 | fifth NFL season | UNC 2018–20
Roster situation — Starting running back ahead of Miles Sanders
Season statistics — 14 games, 14 starts, 230 carries, 1,113 yards (4.8 average; 66 longest), 10 touchdowns; 33 catches, 128 yards (3.9 average; 14 longest), 2 touchdowns
Week 16 — 1 p.m. Sunday vs. Los Angeles Chargers, Fox
Week 17 — 1 p.m. Thursday at Washington, Netflix
Out for season
Miami Dolphins defensive back Storm Duck, knee injury (season statistics: 2 games, 1 start, 1 tackle, 1 assist, 1 pass defended)
Houston Texans safety M.J. Stewart, quadriceps injury (season statistics: 9 games, 4 starts, 10 tackles, 8 assists, 2 passes defended, 1 forced fumble, 5 special-teams tackles, 2 special-teams assists)
On injured reserve
Minnesota Vikings running back Ty Chandler, knee injury
New York Giants offensive lineman Joshua Ezudu (IR with designation to return), undisclosed injury
Philadelphia Eagles center Willie Lampkin, leg injury (Rams released him in camp)
Seattle linebacker Chazz Surratt (ankle injury)
On practice squads
Baltimore linebacker Kaimon Rucker
New England linebacker Amari Gainer
Minnesota tight end Bryson Nesbit
On reserve/non-football injury list
Houston cornerback Alijah Huzzie
Waived from practice squads
Linebacker Power Echols by Chicago
Linebacker Tomon Fox by the New York Giants
Defensive tackle Jahvaree Ritzie by New England
Released during training camp
Linebacker Eugene Asanti by Miami
Tight end John Copenhaver by Jacksonville
Linebacker Desmond Evans by Tennessee
Wide receiver Nate McCollum by Arizona
Defensive back Kyler McMichael by Pittsburgh
Photo via @Commanders
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