By R.L. Bynum
Sam Howell looked good in his first game as an NFL starter, playing a little more than a quarter.
Howell completed 9 of 12 passes for 77 yards and a touchdown for a 119.1 rating in 19 snaps over three drives as the Washington Commanders won their exhibition opener Friday at Cleveland 17–15.
“I thought it was solid,” said Howell, who was sacked on Washington’s first drive. “Obviously, got off to a slow start with the first two drives, but I thought the third drive was really good. I was proud of our guys with how we battled back after a rough two drives, and we gave up a safety. Think our ability to bounce back was definitely good, and we put some good things on film.”
Howell is learning a new system under first-year offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy, who coached Patrick Mahomes in Kansas City the past few seasons.
“You’ve got to change your mindset from a decision-making standpoint and to learn new concepts and learning how to tie your feet to those concepts and trying to make good decisions in practice and then turn it over into games,” Howell said. “I think I’ve come a long way just from my knowledge of football and understanding what we’re trying to do on offense and what the defense is doing trying to stop this.”
After only playing in the season finale of his rookie season, he showed poise in the pocket to avoid pressure while still looking for open receivers. When there was nothing there, he threw the ball away, as he did on a first-down play at the Washington 5.
When the pocket collapsed on a third-and-six in the first quarter, he ran eight yards for a first down.
“Very encouraged. A lot of good things,” Washington coach Ron Rivera said. “I thought, again, he threw some really good balls. I thought the decision-making was what you want. He looked to have command of things, and it was good to see him get into a rhythm.”
In leading a 10-play, 80-yard second-quarter scoring drive, Howell scrambled before connecting with tight end Cole Turner for 13 yards down the right side on a fourth-and-three at the Browns 39.
“The defense did a good job of covering the concept we had, so I tried to get out of the pocket and make something happen, and Cole did a really good job just getting open,” Howell said. “We practice the scramble drill a lot.”
On the next play, he hit Jahan Dotson on a 26-yard touchdown pass.
“Cole did a good job on the touchdown,” Howell said. “We knew we were going to get man coverage, and we knew that’s a route that Jahan is really good at, and he could have made my job easy.”
Third-year Washington wide receiver Dyami Brown caught one of two passes targeted to him for 14 yards in his 19 snaps. All of his targets came from former N.C. State quarterback Jacoby Brissett.
Also starting in exhibitions so far this weekend were second-year Minnesota Vikings running back Ty Chandler, rookie Detroit Lions wide receiver Antoine Green, second-year New York Giants offensive guard Joshua Ezeudu, New York Giants linebacker Tomon Fox, Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Cole Holcomb and sixth-year Houston Texans safety M.J. Stewart Jr.
In the Vikings’ 24–13 loss Thursday to the Seattle Seahawks, Chandler, still listed as third string, rushed for 41 yards on 11 carries, including a nine-yard run, and caught all four passes thrown to him for 29 yards, including a 13-yard reception.
Green caught all three passes that came his way for 36 yards in the Lions’ 21–16 home victory Friday over the New York Giants. In that game, Fox had one tackle.
Holcomb, in his fifth NFL season but first with the Steelers, had one tackle and one assist in Pittsburgh’s 27–17 road victory over Tampa Bay. It didn’t go well for quarterback Mitch Trubisky, who came off the bench and completed only 1 of 4 passes for 10 yards and was intercepted for a 0.0 rating.
Stewart had one tackle and one special-teams tackle in Houston’s 20–9 road victory Thursday over New England.
Tar Heels who sat out games so far this weekend were Houston offensive tackle Charlie Heck (on the PUP list), Atlanta wide receiver Mack Hollins and Denver running back Javonte Williams.
The Miami Dolphins have signed fourth-year safety Myles Dorn, who played five games last season for the Minnesota Vikings and participated in offseason workouts with the Carolina Panthers. Making the team may be challenging; he’s listed on the depth chart as fifth string.
In Miami’s 19–3 home loss to Atlanta on Friday, Dorn had one tackle and one special-teams assist. For the Falcons, linebacker Andre Smith had two tackles.
James Hurst, who played tackle last season, has shifted to left guard for the New Orleans Saints and is battling Andrus Peat for the starting job. The Saints face Tennessee at 1 p.m. Sunday (CBS).
Entering his 10th NFL season, Hurst could become one of 200 position players in NFL history to play in 150 games after being undrafted.
“It’s a huge blessing,” Hurst told nola.com. “Honestly, it’s hard to believe at times. My first four seasons were scratching and clawing and hoping I make the team.”
Before the official team depth chart was released, Dallas Cowboys rookie offensive lineman Asim Richards was listed as second string on most websites. The official depth chart, though, has him as the third-string left guard behind Tyler Smith and Mann Farniok. Dallas faces Jacksonville at 5 p.m. Saturday.
Cornerback Kyler McMichael is fighting for a roster spot with the Arizona Cardinals, listed as sixth string. In Arizona’s 18–17 home win over Denver on Friday, he had two tackles and forced a fumble.
Several Tar Heels have games the next two days, highlighted by Josh Downs’ first time in an NFL uniform as the Indianapolis Colts visit the Buffalo Bills at 1 p.m. Saturday.
Dyami Brown, Washington Commanders wide receiver
Age 23 | 6–0, 195 | third NFL season | UNC 2018–20
Roster situation — Second-string WR behind Terry McLaurin
38–10 Sunday loss vs. Dallas — 1 of 1 passing, 4 yards, 83.3 passer rating; 7 offensive snaps (14%), 12 special-teams snaps (55%)
Season statistics — 17 games, 1 start; 12 catches, 164 yards (35 longest), 1 TD; 1 rush, 0 yards; 1 assist; 2 special-teams tackles; 1 special-teams assist; 1 of 1 passing, 4 yards, 83.3 passer rating
Season over — The Commanders finished 4–13.
Michael Carter, Arizona Cardinals running back
Age 24 | 5–8, 201 | third NFL season | UNC 2017–20
Roster situation — Competing for time with James Conner, Earl Demercado and Keaontay Ingram
21–20 Sunday loss vs. Seattle