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.
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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 26 | 5–11, 225 | third NFL season | UNC 2018–23
Roster situation — First-string fullback
2025 statistics —13 games, 17 carries, 787 yards (20 longest); 5 special-teams tackles, 5 special-teams assists
Preseason Week 1 — Chargers 27, Raiders 13 | missed game recovering from hand surgery
Preseason Week 2 — Raiders 22, Texans 20 | missed game recovering from hand surgery
Preseason Week 3 — Friday: Panthers 16, Texans 13 | missed game recovering from hand surgery
Season opener — 1 p.m. Sept. 13 vs. Buffalo, CBS
Dyami Brown, Washington Commanders wide receiver
Age 26 | 6–0, 195 | sixth NFL season | UNC 2018–20
Roster situation — Second-string right wide receiver
2025 statistics (Jacksonville) — 17 games, 7 starts, 23 catches, 220 yards (39 longest), 9.9 average, 1 TD, 1 fumble (lost); 5 carries, 26 yards (9 longest); 4 kickoff returns, 106 yards (31 longest)
Preseason Week 1 — Commanders 20, Dolphins 7 | started, 1 catch on 2 targets, 22 yards, 1 tackle after an interception on a pass intended for him; 12 offensive snaps (17%)
Preseason Week 2 — Lions 17, Commanders 13 | didn’t start, 1 catch on 1 target, 3 yards; 11 offensive snaps (23%)
Preseason Week 3 — Friday: Ravens 41, Commanders 3 | didn’t play
Season opener — 4:25 Sept. 13 at Philadelphia, Fox
Josh Downs, Indianapolis Colts wide receiver
Age 25 | 5–9, 171 | fourth NFL season | UNC 2020–22
Roster situation — Starting slot wide receiver
2025 statistics — 16 games, 11 starts, 58 catches, 566 yards (34 longest), 4 touchdowns; 2 rush, -2 yards; 7 punt returns, 68 yards; 2 tackles
Preseason Week 1 — Colts 13, Patriots 13 | Didn’t play
Preseason Week 2 — Falcons 34, Colts 6 | Didn’t play
Preseason Week 3 — Saturday: Lions 25, Colts 16 | Didn’t play (expected to be ready for Week 1, but has dealt with a minor calf injury)
Season opener — 1 p.m. Sept. 13 vs. Baltimore, CBS
Joshua Ezeudu, Kansas City Chiefs tackle/guard
Age 26 | 6–4, 310 | fifth NFL season | UNC 2018–21
Roster situation — Reserve tackle
2025 statistics — (with New York Giants) Missed the season with a severe calf injury suffered during training camp (played 17 games in 2024)
Traded: The Giants traded him to the Chiefs on Wednesday for a seventh-round draft pick.
Preseason Week 1 — (with Giants) Vikings 13, Giants 10 | Played 27 offensive snaps (50%) and 1 special-teams snap (4%) off the bench
Preseason Week 2 — (with Giants) Giants 26, Dolphins 3 | didn’t start, injured on late third-quarter play; 47 offensive snaps (58%), 5 special-teams snaps (19%)
Preseason Week 3 — (with Chiefs) Chiefs 9, Seahawks 9 | didn’t play
Season opener — 8:15 Monday, Sept. 14 vs. Denver, ESPN
Cedric Gray, Tennessee Titans linebacker
Age 23 | 6–2, 235 | third NFL season | UNC 2020–23
Roster situation — Starting weakside linebacker
2025 statistics — 16 games, 15 starts, 94 tackles, 65 assists, 7 tackles for losses, 1 sack for 7 yards, 3 passes defended, 2 quarterback pressures, 1 quarterback hit, 2 special-teams tackles, 2 fumble recoveries
Preseason Week 1 — Titans 19, 49ers 13 | started, 2 tackles, 1 assist; 26 defensive snaps (34%), 1 special-teams snap (4%)
Preseason Week 2 — Sunday: Titans 19, Seahawks 16 | started, 3 tackles, 2 assists, 1 pass defended; 25 defensive snaps (49%), 5 special-teams snaps (19%)
Preseason Week 3 — Saturday: Bears 24, Titans 15 | started, 1 tackle; 13 defensive snaps (19%), 1 special-teams snap (4%)
Season opener — 1 p.m. Sept. 13 vs. New Your Jets, CBS
Omarion Hampton, Los Angeles Chargers running back
Age 23 | 6–0, 220 | second NFL season | UNC 2022–24
Roster situation — Starting running back
2025 statistics — 9 games, 6 starts, 124 carries, 545 yards (54 longest), 4.4 average, 4 touchdowns; 32 catches, 192 yards (22 longest), 1 touchdown; 1 fumble recovery
Preseason Week 1 — Chargers 27, Texans 7 | didn’t play
Preseason Week 2 — Thursday: 49ers 41, Chargers 17 | started: 1 carry, -1 yard; 3 offensive snaps (5%)
Preseason Week 3 — Thursday: Rams 20, Chargers 18 |
Season opener — 1 p.m. Sept. 13 vs. Buffalo, CBS
Charlie Heck, Miami Dolphins offensive lineman
Age 29 | 6–8, 311 | seventh NFL season | UNC 2015–19
Roster situation — Second-string left tackle
2025 statistics (Tampa Bay)— 18 games, 1 tackle, 701 offensive snaps, 642 special-teams snaps
Preseason Week 1 — Commanders 20, Dolphins 7 | Played 27 offensive snaps (49%) and 1 special-teams snap (4%) off the bench
Preseason Week 2 — Giants 26, Dolphins 3 | started, called for offensive holding and a false start; 30 offensive snaps (83%), 1 special-teams snap (4%)
Preseason Week 3 — Friday: Falcons 17, Dolphins 12 | didn’t start, 19 offensive snaps (33%), 4 special-teams snaps (15%)
Season opener — 4:25 Sept. 13 at Los Angeles Raiders, Fox
Cole Holcomb, Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker
Age 29 | 6–1, 240 | eighth NFL season | UNC 2015–18
Roster situation — Second-string right inside linebacker
2025 statistics — 12 games, 3 starts, 19 tackles, 11 assists, 1 forced fumble, 5 special-teams tackles, 3 special-teams assists
Preseason Week 1 — Steelers 28, Packers 9 | didn’t start, 2 tackles; 37 defensive snaps (62%), 10 special-teams snaps (38%)
Preseason Week 2 — Jets 17, Steelers 0 | didn’t start, 1 tackle, 1 assist; 17 defensive snaps (29%), 8 special-teams snaps (36%)
Preseason Week 3 — Thursday: Bills 28, Steelers 27 | started, 3 tackles, 2 assists, 1 tackle for a loss; 41 defensive snaps (61%), 9 special-teams snaps (29%)
Season opener —1 p.m. Sept. 13 vs. Atlanta, Fox
Mack Hollins, New England Patriots wide receiver
Age 32 | 6–4, 221 | 10th NFL season | UNC 2013–16
Roster situation — Second-string right wide receiver
2025 statistics — 15 games, 47 catches, 550 yards, 12.0 average, 54 longest, 2 touchdowns
Preseason Week 1 — Colts 13, Patriots 13 | Started, 2 catches on 4 targets, 24 yards (18 longest); 13 offensive snaps
Preseason Week 2 — Patriots 24, Eagles 21 | didn’t start; 1 special-teams snap (4%)
Preseason Week 3 — Thursday: Browns 37, Patriots 13 | didn’t play
Season opener — 8:30 Sept. 9 at Seattle, NBC
Sam Howell, Dallas Cowboys quarterback
Age 24 | 6–1, 225 | fourth NFL season | UNC 2019–21
Roster situation — Backup quarterback
2024 season statistics (Seattle Seahawks); didn’t play in 2025 when with Philadelphia — 2 games, 5 of 14, 24 yards, 1 interception, 14.6 passer rating; 1 carry, 2 yards
Preseason Week 1 — Cowboys 17, Seahawks 7 | started, 8 of 12, 94 yards (39 longest), 1 TD (39-yard pass to Cameron Brown), 118.1 passer rating; 2 carries for 15 yards (10 longest); 26 offensive snaps (39%)
Preseason Week 2 — Cowboys 34, Cardinals 13 | started second half, 7 of 10, 65 yards, 0 TDs, 1 INT, 1 sack (6 yards), 47.9 passer rating; 1 carry, 7 yards; 28 offensive snaps (47%)
Preseason Week 3 — Friday: Saints 27, Cowboys 24 | started second half, 12 of 17, 155 yards, two touchdowns (26-yard pass to Jordan Hudson; 21-yard pass to Mitchell Van Vooren), 0 interceptions, 130.6 passer rating; 1 carry, 2 yards; two-point conversion run; 32 offensive snaps (48%)
Season opener — 8:20 Sept. 13 at New York Giants, NBC
Mike Hughes, Atlanta Falcons cornerback
Age 29 | 5–10, 191 | ninth NFL season | UNC 2015
Roster situation — Starting left cornerback
Season statistics — 12 games, 38 tackles, 11 assists, 1 interception
Preseason Week 1 — Broncos 27, Falcons 7 | Started, 1 tackle, 2 assists; 14 defensive snaps (19%), 1 special-teams snap (4%)
Preseason Week 2 — Falcons 34, Colts 6 | didn’t play
Preseason Week 3 — Friday: Falcons 17, Dolphins 12 | started, 1 pass defended; 14 defensive snaps (24%), 1 special-teams snap (4%)
Season opener — 1 p.m. Sept. 13 at Pittsburgh, Fox
Alijah Huzzie, Houston Texans cornerback
Age 25 | 5–10, 195 | second NFL season | UNC 2023–24
Roster situation — Second-string nickelback
2025 statistics — 2 games, 3 tackles, 1 pass defended, 1 interception, 1 assist on kickoff coverage
Preseason Week 1 — Chargers 27, Raiders 13 | didn’t start, 2 tackles, 1 fumble recovery, 1 pass defended; 30 defensive snaps (45%), 7 special-teams snaps (32%)
Preseason Week 2 — Thursday: Raiders 22, Texans 20 | didn’t start, 2 tackles, 2 assists; 1 punt return, 8 yards; 36 defensive snaps (52%), 10 special-teams snaps (32%)
Preseason Week 3 — Friday: Panthers 16, Texans 13 | started; 1 tackle, 1 tackle on kickoff coverage, 1 fair catch on punt; 36 defensive snaps (51%), 11 special-teams snaps (46%)
Season opener — 1 p.m. Sept. 13 vs. Buffalo, CBS
Willie Lampkin, Philadelphia Eagles guard/center
Age 24 | 5–11, 290 | second NFL season | UNC 2023–24
Roster situation — Second-string right guard
2025 statistics — Didn’t play; went on injured reserve in late August
Preseason Week 1 — Ravens 24, Eagles 7 | started; 23 offensive snaps (52%), 1 special-teams snap (4%); played center and guard
Preseason Week 2 — Patriots 24, Eagles 21 | started; 18 offensive snaps (29%), 3 special-teams snaps (12%)
Preseason Week 3 — Friday: Bengals 30, Eagles 13 | didn’t play
Season opener — 4:25 Sept. 13 vs. Washington, Fox
Drake Maye, New England Patriots quarterback
Age 23 | 6–4, 225 | third NFL season | UNC 2021–23
Roster situation —Starting quarterback
2025 statistics — 17 games, 17 starts, 354 of 492, 4,494 (72 longest), 71.9%, 31 touchdowns, 8 interceptions, 47 sacks (201 yards in losses), 113.5 rating; 103 carries, 450 yards (28 longest), 4 touchdowns; 1 two-point conversion run; 3 fumbles (2 lost, 1 recovered)
Preseason Week 1 — Colts 13, Patriots 13 | Didn’t play
Preseason Week 2 — Saturday: Patriots 24, Eagles 21 | Didn’t play
Preseason Week 3 — Thursday: Browns 37, Patriots 13 | Didn’t play
Season opener — 8:30 Sept. 9 at Seattle, NBC
Asim Richards, New Orleans Saints offensive lineman
Age 25 | 6–4, 307 | fourth NFL season | UNC 2019–22
Roster situation — Second-string left tackle
2025 statistics — 15 games, 4 starts, 359 offensive snaps, 53 special-teams snaps
Preseason Week 1 — Jaguars 24, Saints 20 | started; called for a false start; 45 offensive snaps (68%), 5 special-teams snaps (18%)
Preseason Week 2 — Saturday: Rams 34, Saints 0 | started; 26 offensive snaps (39%)
Preseason Week 3 — Friday: Saints 27, Cowboys 24 | started; 32 offensive snaps (54%), 5 special-teams snaps (19%)
Season opener — 1 p.m. Sept. 13 at Detroit, Fox
Chazz Surratt, Seattle Seahawks linebacker
Age 29 | 6–2, 233 | fifth NFL season | UNC 2017–20
Roster situation — Third-string weakside linebacker
2025 statistics — 11 games, 4 tackles
Preseason Week 1 — Cowboys 17, Seahawks 7 | didn’t start, 2 tackles, 4 assists, 1 forced fumble; 40 defensive snaps (61%), 5 special-teams snaps (28%)
Preseason Week 2 — Titans 19, Seahawks 16 | started; 4 tackles, 1 assist, 1 forced fumble; 35 defensive snaps (45%), 3 special-teams snaps (12%)
Preseason Week 3 — Friday: Seahawks 9, Chiefs 9 | didn’t play
Season opener — 8:20 Sept. 9 vs. New England, NBC
Mitch Trubisky, Tennessee Titans quarterback
Age 30 | 6–3, 222 | 10th NFL season | UNC 2014–16
Roster situation — Second-string QB behind Cam Ward
2025 statistics (Buffalo) — 4 games, 25 of 35, 313 yards (37 longest), 4 touchdowns, 1 2-point conversion completion; 9 carries, 6 yards (9 longest)
Preseason Week 1 — Titans 19, 49ers 13 | didn’t start, 2-3, 23 yards (17 longest), 89.6 passer rating; 8 offensive snaps (13%)
Preseason Week 2 — Sunday: Titans 19, Seahawks 16 | didn’t start, 7 of 9, 0 TDs, 0 INTs, 49 yards, 89.4 passer rating; 16 offensive snaps (21%)
Preseason Week 3 — Saturday: Bears 24, Titans 15 | didn’t play
Season opener — 1 p.m. Sept. 13 vs. New York Jets, CBS
Tez Walker, Baltimore Ravens wide receiver
Age 25 | 6–1, 198 | third NFL season | UNC 2023
Roster situation — Second-string wide receiver
2025 statistics — 11 games, 2 starts, 6 catches, 136 yards (38 longest), 3 touchdowns; 1 tackle, 1 sack, 1 forced fumble, 2 QB hit, 2 special-teams assists
Preseason Week 1 — Ravens 24, Eagles 7 | started, 3 catches on 3 targets, 31 yards (19 longest); 1 tackle on kickoff coverage; 26 offensive snaps (32%), 5 special-teams snaps (22%)
Preseason Week 2 — Saturday: Ravens 13, Vikings 3 | started, 2 catches on 3 targets, 32 yards (27 longest); 32 offensive snaps (55%), 6 special-teams snaps (30%)
Preseason Week 3 — Friday: Ravens 41, Commanders 3 | didn’t start, 3 catches on 5 targets, 22 yards (11 longest); 41 offensive snaps (59%)
Season opener — 1 p.m. Sept. 13 at Indianapolis, CBS
Javonte Williams, Dallas Cowboys running back
Age 26 | 5–10, 220 | sixth NFL season | UNC 2018–20
Roster situation — Starting running back
2025 statistics — 16 games, 16 starts, 252 carries, 1,201 yards (4.8 average; 66 longest), 11 touchdowns; 35 catches, 137 yards (3.9 average; 14 longest), 2 touchdowns
Preseason Week 1 — Cowboys 17, Seahawks 7 | didn’t play
Preseason Week 2 — Saturday: Cowboys 34, Cardinals 13 | didn’t play
Preseason Week 3 — Friday: Saints 27, Cowboys 24 | didn’t play
Season opener — 8:20 Sept. 13 at New York Giants, NBC
On season-ending injured reserve
— New Orleans running back Ty Chandler; suffered a knee injury in the second preseason game; ran for 45 yards in two preseason games
On injured reserve
— Minnesota cornerback Marcus Allen; had 2 tackles, 1 assist in 45 preseason snaps
— New York Giants rookie cornerback Thaddeus Dixon (torn Achilles)
On PUP list
— Houston safety M.J. Stewart (torn quad), who didn’t play during the preseason
On practice squads
— Los Angeles Rams center Austin Blaske; played every offensive snap of all three preseason games
— Tennessee running back Michael Carter by Tennessee; had three catches for 20 yards and a 43-yard kickoff return in last preseason game
— Minnesota defensive tackle Jahvaree Ritzie; had four tackles and three assists in 77 total preseason snaps
— Baltimore linebacker Kaimon Rucker; had 5 tackles, 1 assist, 1 sack (6 yards), 2 tackles for losses and 1 quarterback hit in their 41–3 preseason win Friday
Waived in camp
— Linebacker Power Echols by Seattle
— Linebacker Tomon Fox by Los Angeles Rams; had 28 tackles and 13 special-teams tackles in two preseason games
— Linebacker Amari Gainer by New England; had 4 tackles and two assists in three preseason games
— Defensive end Smith Vilbert by Minnesota; had one tackle in 47 preseason snaps
Waived with injury designation
— Tight end Bryson Nesbit by Minnesota after collecting 3 catches for 29 yards in two preseason games; had been listed as fifth string
Photo via @Commanders
