By R.L. Bynum
Sam Howell turned in another efficient performance Monday in his first exhibition game appearance since Washington Commanders coach Ron Rivera officially named the second-year quarterback his starter.
His big night was topped when he connected with former UNC teammate Dyami Brown for one of two touchdown passes he threw in the final 1:49 of the first half of Washington’s 29–28 home victory over the Baltimore Ravens.
“I’m so excited,” Howell said in a sideline interview with ESPN during the second half about the opportunity to be an NFL starter as the Commanders went to 2–0 in the preseason. “I’m just so blessed by God to be given this opportunity. So, I’m going to do everything I can to make the most of it.”
Playing the entire first half and four drives, Howell took sacks in the first and second quarters but smoothly went through his progressions and looked to be in full command. He made some solid throws under pressure.
“I thought it was all right,” Howell said of his performance. “I thought we did some good things. I thought there were a lot of things that we could have done a better job of, things I could have done a better job of. I took up two bad sacks that were my fault. So, we would like not to have those plays. But I’m proud of my guys; they kept fighting. We’re able to put some good drives together.”
Late in the first half, when it appeared he was about to get sacked, he eluded defenders and connected for 17 yards to Jahan Dotson on a third-and-10. Two plays later, Howell hit Brown for an 11-yard touchdown pass with 17 seconds left to give Washington a 17–14 halftime lead.
He was 19 of 25 for 188 yards, connecting with Antonio Gibson with 1:49 in the first half on a nine-yard touchdown pass, and had a 123.4 passer rating.
“Just coming out every day, I just wanted everybody to trust me. I wanted this organization to trust me. I want my teammates to trust me. So just trying to come in every day and work as hard as I can,” Howell said of what he’s wanted to accomplish in preseason camp.
Howell didn’t play in the second half.
Brown finished with two catches for 27 yards on six targets.
Howell completed 5 of 6 passes for 56 yards on Washington’s first drive, which led to a 21-yard Joey Slye field goal.
Howell attempted two deep third-down passes to Brown down the right side in the second quarter. Both times, against tight coverage from Ravens cornerback Kevon Seymour, Brown couldn’t make the catch.
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 @NFL
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