Eyebrows were raised late in Washington’s 28-20 loss to the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday when head coach Ron Rivera replaced starting quarterback Sam Howell with veteran Jacoby Brissett.
Howell’s final play, an interception in the fourth quarter, led to Rivera deciding the second-year quarterback needed to sit, but not for performance reasons.
“Well, just really trying to take care of him a little bit,” Rivera said of Howell. “He got into a situation and then the ears pinned back like that, [I] didn’t want to see anything crazy.”
There have been similar situations this season where Rivera left Howell in, saying it was good for his development.
Howell looked different on Sunday. He didn’t have it. He was checking down quicker and on more than one occassion when he either escaped the pocket or climbed the pocket, he chose more difficult throws rather than shorter and easier completions.
Howell was under constant duress, often escaping the pocket, but took only one sack.
When Brissett passed for two touchdowns and made it a one-score game, many people wondered if there would be a quarteback controversy for the final three games.
Rivera, correctly, shut that talk down.
“Yes, he is,” Rivera replied when someone asked if Howell was still the starting quarterback. “He is our starting quarterback.”
This is the only move. Yes, Brissett did well in relief, but he is a veteran on an expiring contract. He will be elsewhere in 2024. Washington must continue to evaluate Howell over the final three games, for better or worse.