Commanders' Jacoby Brissett Eyes Starting QB Spot
All signs seemingly point to Sam Howell being the starting quarterback for the Washington Commanders on September 10 against the Arizona Cardinals.
But don't tell that to Jacoby Brissett.
Brissett signed a one-year deal with the Commanders and was seemingly brought in to push Howell before becoming the backup quarterback. However, in an interview with Pro Football Talk, Brissett said he signed with Washington to become its starting quarterback.
"I wouldn’t be here if it was something else,” Brissett told PFT. “If I thought otherwise, then I’d have a problem."
Brissett has played for four different teams across seven seasons in the NFL. In 2022, the seven-year vet started 11 games for the Cleveland Browns. Cleveland went 4-7 in those games, while Brissett threw for 2,608 yards, 12 touchdowns and six interceptions. For his career, teams have gone 18-30 in the 48 games he started.
Howell, who was taken in the fifth round of the 2022 draft, has only started one game in his career. Howell completed 11 of 19 passes for 169 yards, one touchdown and an interception in Washington's 26-6 win over the Dallas Cowboys on Jan. 8. Howell also rushed for 35 yards and a touchdown on five carries.
Commanders head coach Ron Rivera said there is an open competition to become the starting quarterback, though Howell has taken all of the first-team reps throughout the offseason. Even with the two jocking to become the starting quarterback, Rivera said Howell and Brissett have been helping each other throughout camp, and the dynamic between them is the "best thing," he has seen from them.
"It's really cool because you watch the cooperation between the quarterbacks and not just those two, but all of them," Rivera said. "And Jacoby's -- one thing everybody says about him is this dude's a great teammate and when you watch him and you watch how he handles his communications with Sam after plays and after certain things happening you can tell that this is a legit team guy. I mean, he's trying to help Sam as much as possible. And then you watch Sam and Sam is encouraging and giving praise to Jacoby as well as the other guys, and that is what you want."
Brissett is likely facing an uphill climb if he is going to become the Commanders' starting quarterback. But with a ways to go before offseason activities ramp up, Brissett will have his chance to become the man leading Washington's offense when the 2023 season begins.
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