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A year after being the Buffalo Bills’ backup, the Pittsburgh Steelers have indicated that Mitch Trubisky will be their starting quarterback for Sunday’s opener at Cincinnati and named him as one of five captains. Coach Mike Tomlin didn’t announce his starter. But Trubisky is listed as the starter on the Steelers’ depth chart released Monday, with former University of Pittsburgh star Kenny Pickett as the backup and Mason Randolph third string.
NFL teams had to cut their rosters down to 53 players on Tuesday, which led to terrific news for outside linebacker Tomon Fox but a disappointing day for several other former UNC players. After 29 Tar Heels were in NFL camps when they started, that number of active players is down to 18, with three others on injured reserve.
The ESPN career of former UNC center Jeff Saturday has lasted nearly a decade and he has signed a contract extension.
CHAPEL HILL — Jordan Reid has been living a dream since November when ESPN put him on the air as an NFL draft analyst. An N.C. Central quarterback from 2010–13 and a three-year starter, he spent his first five years after graduation as an assistant coach at his alma mater when the Eagles won three MEAC titles. But Reid realized something he “always wanted to do” was evaluating players and decided to “take a chance on myself.”
While Sam Howell, at least initially, isn’t likely to play a significant regular-season role for the Washington Commanders, he took advantage of a chance to show his talent in their final exhibition game. The rookie quarterback got every snap of Washington’s 17–15 road loss Saturday at Baltimore. Although he couldn’t lead the Commanders to a victory, he was impressive, going 24 of 35 for 280 yards with a touchdown, no interceptions and a 102.1 passer rating. He also had eight carries for 62 yards, including a 13-yard run.
While quarterback Mitch Trubisky was pretty effective on his 28th birthday Saturday despite playing behind a struggling offensive line, Sam Howell was more inconsistent after an impressive NFL exhibition debut. In Pittsburgh’s 16–15 Saturday victory over Jacksonville, Trubisky completed 5 of 8 passes for 60 yards, including a 29-yard gain, and had a 10-yard run in his 15 snaps. Although he had no interceptions, he also had no touchdown passes and an 85.4 passer rating. His three drives only produced a field goal, and one drive was a three-and-out.
It was a good first weekend of NFL exhibition games for the two UNC quarterbacks in the NFL on Saturday, with Washington Commanders rookie Sam Howell putting on a show off the bench and new Pittsburgh Steeler Mitch Trubisky playing well as a starter.
By R.L. Bynum Rookie Sam Howell may have been the Washington Commanders’ third quarterback in Saturday’s 23–21 loss to the … More
Bolstered by eight rookies — three with the New York Giants — the number of Tar Heels in NFL camps is a mammoth 29 players, with some fighting for roster spots, many battling to move up the depth charts and others projected to start. Some of the headliners in camps have been running back Javonte Williams, quarterback Mitch Trubisky, wide receiver Mack Hollins and offensive guard Joshua Ezeudu.
Sam Howell’s interminable wait finally ended at the start of the fifth round on Saturday afternoon when the Washington Commanders made the Carolina quarterback the 144th overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft and the sixth quarterback selected. The former Redskins may have just got one of the steals of the draft in getting the No. 34 player on the Pro Football Focus big board. A year ago, Howell was considered to be a sure first-round pick. Since 2019, Howell has PFP’s top grade in fourth quarters at 92.4. “God is so faithful,” Howell wrote on Twitter. “So excited for this next chapter. Let’s go to work!”
Mitchell Trubisky reportedly has reached an agreement on a two-year deal with Pittsburgh, where he will likely replace Ben Roethlisberger as the Steelers’ starting quarterback. Trubisky’s competition to take over for the retired Roethlisberger will be Mason Rudolph.
The injury-depleted Tampa Bay Buccaneers needed a boost in their playoff opener and got one from Giovani Bernard, who missed the last four games of the regular season with hip and knee issues. Bernard piled up 83 total yards and a touchdown in the Bucs’ 31–15 playoff win Sunday over the Philadelphia Eagles.
The rookie seasons for running backs Javonte Williams and Michael Carter had some big highlights but Week 18 wasn’t one of them. Javonte Williams rushed 12 times for 46 yards and caught two passes for 18 yards in Denver’s 28–24 home loss Saturday to the Kansas City Chiefs.
Robert Quinn made history in Chicago’s 29–3 home victory over the New York Giants. He recorded his 18th sack of the season to break the Bears’ single-season record of Hall of Famer Richard Dent, who recorded 17½ in 1984.
As expected, Sam Howell will skip his senior season at North Carolina and enter the 2022 NFL draft. The greatest quarterback in program history made the announcement in a video posted on his Instagram and Twitter pages Saturday afternoon.
