Most Sacks Outside Tackle Box (2023): Howell (9), D. Watson (7), J. Hurts (6), A. Richardson (6), Fields (5), B. Purdy (5)

Howell has been pressured on 91 dropbacks in 2023, 13 more than any other QB | Field: 76 (3rd-most)

Howell has targeted open receivers (3+ yds of separation) on just 36.4% of passes this season (32nd)

Improved his CPOE in every game this season | Week 3 vs BUF: +8.1% | Week 4 vs PHI: +11.3% (career-high)

Impresses in OT loss to Philly

Howell completed 29 of 41 passes for 290 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 34-31 overtime loss to the Eagles. He added 40 rushing yards on six carries.

Analysis: After a brutal four-INT performance the week before against the Bills, Howell was much sharper in Week 4 and led two fourth-quarter touchdown drives to tie the game twice, ending the second one with a 10-yard TD strike to Jahan Dotson as time expired. Howell will take plenty of confidence into a Week 5 home tilt against a Bears defense that just blew a 21-7 halftime lead against the Broncos.

Mistake-filled effort in loss

Howell completed 19 of 29 passes for 170 yards with no touchdowns and four interceptions in the Commanders' 37-3 loss to the Bills on Sunday. He also rushed once for 18 yards.

Analysis: The second-year signal-caller came into the day having helped the Commanders to a 2-0 record and with just one interception on his 2023 ledger, but both his and the team's fortunes took a drastic turn Sunday. Buffalo's relentless defense took Howell down a whopping nine times while holding him to 5.9 yards per attempt, and two of his four picks led to a combined 10 points for the Bills. Howell's yardage total was also a season low, but he'll have to quickly recover from Sunday's physical and…read more

Leads comeback victory

Howell completed 27 of 39 pass attempts for 299 yards and two touchdowns while adding 13 rushing yards on two attempts in Sunday's 35-33 win over Denver.

Analysis: Howell and the Commanders were down 21-3 early in this contest, but the quarterback stayed poised and helped lead his team to victory. The 2022 fifth-round pick has thrown for 501 yards with four combined touchdowns and one interception while going undefeated in his first two starts with Washington this season. Howell will look to continue his early success against the Bills next Sunday.

Accounts for two scores Sunday

Howell completed 19 of 31 passes for 202 yards with a touchdown and an interception in Sunday's 20-16 win over the Cardinals. He added 11 rushing yards and a TD on two carries.

Analysis: The second-year quarterback got sacked six times and lost a fumble that resulted in an Arizona touchdown, and a late hit from linebacker Kyzir White briefly knocked Howell out of the game in the first quarter, but he wound up getting his revenge early in the fourth when he put the Commanders ahead for good with a six-yard TD scramble. It wasn't the most auspicious start to the season for the Washington offense under new coordinator Eric Bieniemy, and Howell will face a potentially tough test in…read more

Not playing Saturday

Howell and most other starters will be held out of Saturday's preseason finale against the Bengals, Matthew Paras of The Washington Times reports.

Analysis: The long list of players sitting out includes RBs Brian Robinson and Antonio Gibson and WRs Terry McLaurin (toe), Jahan Dotson and Curtis Samuel. With the Commanders using their final preseason game to focus on back-end roster spots, Howell & Co. can soon turn their focus to a Week 1 home game against the Cardinals. McLaurin's availability is one of the big questions for that game.

Throws for 188 and two TDs

Howell completed 19 of 25 passes for 188 yards and two touchdowns in Monday's preseason game against Baltimore, adding three carries for 17 yards.

Analysis: Three days after being named the Week 1 starter, Howell led the Washington first unit to 17 points on four drives while playing the entire first half against Baltimore's second/third-string defenders. He played well even considering the soft competition, though he also showed some of the bad in his scouting report when he took a 13-yard sack on a second-and-2 after needlessly bailing from a relatively clean pocket. Howell bounced back with a 16-yard dart to TE Cole Turner on the next snap,…read more

May get one half of work Monday

Coach Ron Rivera told Lisa Salters of ESPN before Monday's preseason game against the Ravens that Howell will "probably see a good half" of action, Ben Standig of The Athletic reports.

Analysis: Just three days removed from Rivera announcing Howell as the Commanders' starting quarterback for the 2023 season, he'll get a decent amount of run in the team's second exhibition. This follows the 2022 fifth-round pick working three series in the preseason opener against Cleveland, when he completed nine of 12 passes for 77 yards and one touchdown. It's unclear if stalwarts like WRs Terry McLaurin and Jahan Dotson and RBs Brian Robinson and Antonio Gibson will stay on the field as long as…read more

Confirmed as starter

Coach Ron Rivera announced Friday that Howell has been named the Commanders' starting quarterback, Zach Selby of the team's official site reports.

Analysis: Howell will thus draw the nod in the Commanders' regular-season opener against the Cardinals, with veteran signal-caller Jacoby Brissett set to work as his top backup. In addition to confirming Howell as the team's Week 1 starter, Rivera also relayed that the 2022 fifth-rounder will play in Monday night's preseason contest against the Ravens, JP Finlay of NBC Sports Washington reports.

Sharp in preseason opener

Howell completed nine of 12 passes for 77 yards and a touchdown in Friday's preseason win over the Browns. He also gained eight yards on his only carry.

Analysis: The Commanders' first two possessions ended in a punt and a safety due to a holding penalty in the end zone, but Howell got the offense rolling on his third and final drive, capping it off with a 26-yard TD strike to Jahan Dotson. The second-year quarterback remains on track to take over the starting role this season, and Howell holds some deep-league fantasy appeal given his solid receiving corps and the possibility that new coordinator Eric Bieniemy can recreate even a fraction of the success…read more

Will start preseason opener

Howell will start the Commanders' preseason opener Friday versus the Browns, JP Finlay of NBC Sports Washington reports.

Analysis: Howell gets the start over Jacoby Brissett, but it's unclear how long either quarterback will play. A 2022 second-round pick, Howell is on track to open 2023 as a full-time starter, but he could still benefit from getting extended snaps in a competitive setting. In his lone start as a rookie, the North Carolina product completed 11 of 19 pass attempts for 169 yards, one touchdown and one interception while adding 35 yards and a score on the ground during a Week 18 win over Dallas.

Operating as top QB

Howell has taken all the first-team reps this offseason, Matthew Paras of The Washington Times reports.

Analysis: While Howell has the early lead to begin 2023 as a starter, coach Ron Rivera is still publicly calling it an open competition between the second-year quarterback and veteran Jacoby Brissett. Howell had a strong preseason as a rookie but posted mixed results in his lone regular-season start against the Cowboys in Week 18. He completed 58 percent of his passes for 169 yards, a touchdown and an interception while rushing five times for 35 yards and an additional score. If he can hold onto the…read more

May have to compete with Brissett

Howell is expected to enter the offseason program as Washington's top quarterback but could face competition from free-agent signing Jacoby Brissett, Zach Selby of the Commanders' official website reports.

Analysis: Brissett is a solid backup, but it's good news for Howell if this is the only significant competition brought in during the offseason. The Commanders could still draft a quarterback, of course, but they seem to be high on their 2022 fifth-round pick after his strong showing last preseason and solid outing Week 18 against the Cowboys. While not exactly fleet of foot, the densely built Howell (6-1, 220) ran for 828 yards and 11 TDs his final season at UNC, then had 94 rushing yards last preseason…read more

In lead to be starter in 2023

Washington head coach Ron Rivera said Wednesday that Howell will be the "quarterback to beat" during the offseason program, John Keim of ESPN.com reports.

Analysis: A 2022 fifth-round pick, Howell was a healthy scratch for the majority of his rookie season, but he served as Washington's starting signal-caller Week 18 against the Cowboys, completing 11 of 19 passes for 169 yards, one touchdown and one interception while taking five carries for 35 yards and another score in a 26-6 win. Considering Rivera's comments, the Commanders don't seem poised to make a big offseason splash at quarterback this offseason after bringing on Carson Wentz last March. While…read more

Collects win in first career start

Howell completed 11 of 19 passes for 169 yards and a touchdown with an interception in Sunday's 26-6 win over the Cowboys. He added 35 rushing yards and a TD on five carries.

Analysis: The rookie quarterback tossed a bad red-zone pick early in the second quarter when the outcome of the game was still in doubt, but otherwise Howell was solid in his first career NFL start, hitting Terry McLaurin for his first passing TD in the first quarter and then running one in from nine yards out in the third. Carson Wentz has no more guaranteed money remaining on his current contract and is a candidate to be released, and Taylor Heinicke is a free agent in the offseason, so Howell could…read more

Named as Week 18 starter

Commanders head coach Ron Rivera said Wednesday that Howell will start Sunday's game against the Cowboys, Nicki Jhabvala of The Washington Post reports.

Analysis: Though Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com reported earlier in the day that Taylor Heinicke was expected to step back in as the starter for Week 18 in place of the benched Carson Wentz, Washington will instead turn the offense over to Howell, a fifth-round rookie out of North Carolina who has yet to make his NFL debut. Howell showed promise in the preseason, completing 62.3 percent of his passes for 7.8 yards per attempt while adding 94 yards and two scores on the ground. A positive outing against the…read more

Likely to debut Week 18

Howell is slated to dress as the Commanders' backup quarterback behind Taylor Heinicke in Sunday's game against the Cowboys and is expected to get the chance to play his first NFL snaps, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com reports.

Analysis: While Carson Wentz was on injured reserve from Weeks 7 through 12, Howell had served as the top backup, but he didn't see any game action behind Heinicke. However, with the 7-8-1 Commanders having now been eliminated from the playoffs after suffering a 24-10 loss to the Browns this past Sunday in Wentz's return to the starting lineup, head coach Ron Rivera appears prepared to drop Wentz to third on the depth chart in order to get an evaluation on Howell in the No. 2 role. It's unclear when the…read more

Healthy again Week 15

Howell (coach's decision) has been deemed inactive ahead of Sunday's game against the Giants.

Analysis: Howell was ruled a healthy scratch in each game before stepping up as the Commanders' No. 2 quarterback behind Taylor Heinicke since Week 7. However, previous starter Carson Wentz (finger) is now set to take over the team's backup duties after being activated from IR on Monday. Barring additional injury to Wentz and/or Heinicke, it's likely Howell will remain sidelined for the foreseeable future.

Set for backup duties

Howell will take over as the Commanders' backup quarterback with Taylor Heinicke set to start Sunday versus the Packers in place of Carson Wentz (finger), Ben Standigof The Athletic reports.

Analysis: Howell has been inactive through the first six weeks of the season, but the rookie fifth-round pick will get a chance to suit up as the No. 2 option behind Heinicke. Though the Commanders haven't provided an official timetable for Wentz's return, he's in line to miss multiple weeks after undergoing surgery to repair a fractured ring finger. Howell put together solid performances during the preseason, and he could have a path to playing time if Heinicke struggles or misses any time himself.

Inactive Sunday

Howell (coach's decision) is inactive Sunday against the Jaguars.

Analysis: Howell is currently behind starter Carson Wentz and No. 2 quarterback Taylor Heinicke on the team's positional depth chart. The rookie will need an injury, or to make further strides throughout the season to crack the active roster on gameday.

Plays well again

Howell completed 24 of 35 passes for 280 yards and a touchdown in Saturday's 17-15 preseason loss to Baltimore, adding eight carries for 62 yards.

Analysis: Howell played the entire game and took five sacks, but mostly he played well, finishing the preseason 43-of-69 passing (62.3 percent) for 527 yards (7.8 YPA), one touchdown and one interception. The fifth-round pick figures to enter his rookie season as a third-stringer, but there's a path to playing time by the end of the year given that Washington's other QBs are Carson Wentz and Taylor Heinicke.