By R.L. Bynum
There was room to grow for Washington quarterback Sam Howell in his first NFL start as QB1 on Sunday, but at least he got a victory.
Howell rebounded from an interception and a costly fumble to throw for one touchdown and run for another as the Commanders earned a 20–16 victory over the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday in the opener for both teams.
“I think offensively, we found a way to push ourselves across the finish line there at the end,” Howell said in a postgame TV interview on Fox. “But definitely a lot of stuff we’ve got to clean up — too many turnovers, too many penalties. We’re gonna continue to get better. But just glad we have a really good defense, and we were able to pull out the win.”
Howell was 19 of 31 for 202 yards and a touchdown for a 77.6 passer rating. He was sacked six times for 46 yards in losses while running twice for 11 yards and a touchdown.
“I’m feeling good,” Howell said. “Obviously, a lot of ups and downs throughout today’s game. I just think, as a whole, our offense to clean some stuff up. I’m excited to get back in practice this week and try to get better.”
Howell seemed to find his rhythm after halftime as he connected on four of seven second-half passes.
Howell got his welcome to the NFL moment when he absorbed a late hit in the first quarter from Kyzir White, which also sent a referee to the ground and drew a personal foul penalty. Howell was evaluated for a concussion but quickly cleared.
“He got me pretty good, but it didn’t hurt,” Howell said. “It’s just football.”
After taking that hit, Howell drove Washington 91 yards in nine plays, throwing his first NFL touchdown pass, a seven-yard play to Brian Robinson
Arizona linebacker Dennis Dardeck strip-sacked Howell, which linebacker Dennis Gardeck recovered at the Washington 2 and scored a second-quarter Arizona touchdown. But he scrambled and ran six yards for a touchdown early in the fourth quarter to give the Commanders a one-point lead.
Dyami Brown wasn’t targeted for any passes and had one special-teams tackle for Washington.
In his NFL debut, wide receiver Josh Downs started and had three catches on seven targets for 30 yards, including a 22-yard reception, in the Indianapolis Colts’ 31–21 home victory over Jacksonville.
Javonte Williams returned after missing most of last season with a knee injury. He started for the Denver Broncos in their 17–16 home loss to the Las Vegas Raiders, rushing 13 times for 52 yards and catching four passes on six targets for five yards.
Wide receiver Mack Hollins had three catches on four targets for 31 yards in Atlanta’s 24–10 home victory over the Carolina Panthers. Cornerback Mike Hughes wasn’t active for the game.
In Minnesota’s 20–17 home loss to Tampa Bay, running back Ty Chandler had three rushes for no net yards (although one run went for two yards), and he caught the only pass targeted to him for 18 yards. He also returned a kickoff for 15 yards.
In Pittsburgh’s 30–7 home loss to San Francisco, linebacker Cole Holcomb started and had two tackles, three assists, and forced a fumble. Quarterback Mitchell Trubisky didn’t play.
Safety M.J. Stewart Jr. had two tackles, three assists and forced a fumble in the Houston Texans’ 25–9 road loss to the Baltimore Ravens. Houston offensive lineman James Hurst is on the PUP (physically unable to perform) list with an undisclosed injury and didn’t play.
After competing with Andrus Peat for the starting left guard spot during training camp, James Hurst started in the New Orleans Saints’ 16–15 home victory over the Tennessee Titans.
On Sunday night, Joshua Ezeudu, Marcus McKethan and the New York Giants lost 40–0 at home against Asim Richards and the Dallas Cowboys. All three offensive linemen played off the bench.
Rookie wide receiver Antoine Green didn’t play in Detroit’s 21–20 Thursday win at Kansas City.
Michael Carter had one rush for six yards and two catches for 12 yards in the New York Jets’ 26–16 overtime win Monday night over Buffalo. Linebacker Chazz Surratt played off the bench but had no statistics.
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
20–16 win vs. Arizona — 1 special-teams tackle; 19 offensive snaps (27%), 5 special-teams snaps (19%)
Up next — 4:25 Sunday at Denver, CBS
Michael Carter, New York Jets running back
Age 24 | 5–8, 201 | third NFL season | UNC 2017–20
Roster situation — Third-string RB behind Breece Hall and Dalvin Cook
22–16 OT win vs. Buffalo — 1 rush, 6 yards; 2 catches on 2 targets, 12 yards; 12 offensive snaps
Up next — 4:25 Sunday at Dallas, CBS
Ty Chandler, Minnesota Vikings running back
Age 25 | 5–11, 204 | second NFL season | UNC 2021
Roster situation — Third-string RB behind Alexander Mattison and Kene Nwangwu
20–17 loss vs. Tampa Bay — 3 rushes, 0 yards (2 longest); 1 catch on 1 target, 18 yards; 1 kickoff return, 15 yards; 11 offensive snaps(17%), 5 special-teams snaps (18%)
Up next — 8:15 Thursday at Philadelphia, Prime Video
Josh Downs, Indianapolis Colts wide receiver
Age 22 | 5–9, 171 | rookie NFL season | UNC 2020–22
Roster situation — Starting wide receiver ahead of Isaiah McKenzie
31–21 win vs. Jacksonville — Started; 3 catches on 7 targets, 30 yards (22 longest); 57 offensive snaps (79%)
Up next — 1 p.m. Sunday at Houston, Fox
Joshua Ezeudu, New York Giants offensive lineman
Age 23 | 6–4, 308 | second NFL season | UNC 2018–21
Roster situation — Listed as second-string right guard behind Mark Glowinski
40–0 loss vs. Dallas — Played off the bench; 14 offensive snaps (20%), 2 special-teams snaps (8%)
Up next — 4:05 p.m. Sunday at Arizona, Fox
Antoine Green, Detroit Lions wide receiver
Age 23 | 6–2, 199 | rookie NFL season | UNC 2017–20
Roster situation — Second-string wide receiver behind Marvin Jones Jr.
21–20 Thursday win at Kansas City — Didn’t play
Up next — 1 p.m. Sunday vs. Seattle, Fox
Charlie Heck, Houston Texans tackle
Age 26 | 6–8, 311 | fourth NFL season | UNC 2015–19
Roster situation — Fourth-string left tackle behind Laremy Tunsil, Josh Jones and George Fant; on PUP list with an undisclosed injury
25–9 loss at Baltimore — Didn’t play
Up next — 1 p.m. Sunday vs. Indianapolis, Fox
Cole Holcomb, Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker
Age 26 | 6–1, 240 | fifth NFL season | UNC 2015–18
Roster situation — Starting left inside linebacker ahead of Kwon Alexander
30–7 loss vs. San Francisco — Started; 2 tackles, 3 assists, 1 forced fumble; 53 defensive snaps (78%), 8 special-teams snaps (31%)
Up next — 8:15 Monday vs. Cleveland, ABC, ESPN+
Mack Hollins, Atlanta Falcons wide receiver
Age 29 | 6–4, 221 | seventh NFL season | UNC 2013–16
Roster situation — Listed as starting wide receiver ahead of Josh Ali
24–10 win vs. Carolina — Didn’t start; 3 catches on 4 targets, 31 yards (11 longest); 33 offensive snaps (63%), 5 special-teams shaps (19%)
Up next — 1 p.m. Sunday vs. Green Bay, Fox
Sam Howell, Washington Commanders quarterback
Age 22 | 6–1, 220 | second NFL season | UNC 2019–21
Roster situation — Starting QB ahead of Jacoby Brissett and Jake Fromm
20–16 win vs. Arizona — Started; 19 of 31, 202 yards (32 longest), 1 TD, 1 INT, 6 sacks for 46 yards, 77.6 passer rating; 2 rushes, 11 yards (6 longest), 1 TD; 1 fumble lost; 71 offensive snaps (100%)
Up next — 4:25 Sunday at Denver, CBS
Mike Hughes, Atlanta Falcons cornerback
Age 26 | 5–10, 191 | sixth NFL season | UNC 2015
Roster situation — Third string left cornerback behind A.J. Terrell and Dee Alford (questionable for opener)
24–10 win vs. Carolina — Not active for game
Up next — 1 p.m. Sunday vs. Green Bay, Fox
James Hurst, New Orleans Saints offensive lineman
Age 31 | 6–5, 310 | 10th NFL season | UNC 2010–13
Roster situation — Vying for starting left-guard spot with Andrus Peat
16–15 win vs. Tennessee — Started at left guard; 65 offensive snaps (100%)
Up next — 7:15 Monday at Carolina, ESPN
Marcus McKethan, New York Giants offensive lineman
Age 23 | 6–7, 335 | second NFL season | UNC 2018–21
Roster situation — Listed as third-string right tackle behind Evan Neal and Matt Pearl
40–0 loss vs. Dallas — Played off the bench
Up next — 4:05 p.m. Sunday at Arizona, Fox
Asim Richards, Dallas Cowboys offensive lineman
Age 22 | 6–4, 307 | rookie NFL season | UNC 2019–22
Roster situation — Listed as second-string left guard behind Tyler Smith and Matt Farniok
40–0 win at New York Giants — Played off the bench; 9 snaps (16%)
Up next — 4:25 Sunday vs. New York Jets, CBS
M.J. Stewart Jr., Houston Texans safety
Age 27 | 5–11, 200 | sixth NFL season | UNC 2014–17
Roster situation — Second-string safety behind Jimmie Ward
25–9 loss at Baltimore — 2 tackles, 3 assists,1 forced fumble; 35 defensive snaps (55%), 17 special-teams snaps (68%)
Up next — 1 p.m. Sunday vs. Indianapolis, Fox
Chazz Surratt, New York Jets linebacker
Age 26 | 6–2, 233 | third NFL season | UNC 2017–20
Roster situation — Second-string middle linebacker behind C.J. Mosley
22–16 OT win vs. Buffalo — Played off the bench; 18 special-teams snaps
Up next — 4:25 Sunday at Dallas, CBS
Mitchell Trubisky, Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback
Age 29 | 6–2, 220 | seventh NFL season | UNC 2014–16
Roster situation — Second-string QB behind Kenny Pickett
30–7 loss vs. San Francisco — Didn’t play
Up next — 8:15 Monday vs. Cleveland, ABC, ESPN+
Javonte Williams, Denver Broncos running back
Age 23 | 5–10, 220 | third NFL season | UNC 2018–20
Roster situation — Starting running back ahead of Samaje Perine
17–16 loss vs. Las Vegas — Started; 13 carries, 52 yards (11 longest); 4 catches on 6 targets, 5 yards (7 longest); 29 snaps (45%)
Up next — 4:25 Sunday vs. Washington, CBS
Waived during training camp
Fullback Jake Bargas by New Orleans
Defensive back Myles Dorn by Miami
Linebacker Tomon Fox by New York Giants
Cornerback Kyler McMichael by Arizona
Wide receiver Dazz Newsome by San Francisco
Linebacker Andre Smith by Atlanta
Nose tackle Raymond Vohasek by Jacksonville
Other free agents
Aaron Crawford, defensive tackle — Baltimore released him in training camp before last season; the New York Giants signed him Nov. 8 but released him the next day.
Jalen Dalton, defensive tackle — Atlanta waived him on June 7 (he had 8 tackles, 5 assists in 7 games for the Falcons last season), Carolina claimed him June 8 but waived him June 12 with a failed physical designation.
Jeremiah Gemmel, linebacker — San Francisco released him early last season, then Denver signed and later released him.
Bug Howard, tight end — Tampa Bay released him during training camp last season on an injury settlement. He signed with the USFL’s Philadelphia Stars on Feb. 8 but they put him on the inactive list on March 19.
Austin Proehl, wide receiver — The New York Giants released him last season during training camp. He played this spring for the XFL’s St. Louis BattleHawks. In nine games, he caught 25 passes for 225 yards and one touchdown.
Robert Quinn, defensive tackle — His contract expired after finishing last season with Philadelphia. The 33-year-old veteran played 13 games, with seven starts, eight tackles (1 for a loss), two assists and one sack.
Jordan Tucker, defensive tackle — Pittsburgh released him during training camp last season. He signed with the CFL’s Saskatchewan Roughriders in the offseason and didn’t make the roster in preseason but is back on their roster.
Antonio Williams, running back — He was briefly on the New York Giants’ practice squad last season but was released on Oct. 5. He signed on Feb. 13 with the CFL’s BC Lions, who released him on June 27.
Photo via @Commanders
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