Former Commanders starter suffers most humiliating career setback yet

Ron Rivera tried to find a reliable starting quarterback for the Washington Commanders. The former head coach could never find the right one.

He inherited an aging Alex Smith and a woefully inexperienced Dwayne Haskins upon his arrival. Rivera then proceeded to draft, sign, and trade for seven other signal callers who would take turns under center for Washington between 2020 and 2024.

Every year seemed like a fresh start, with the promise of a wise veteran or a talented newcomer offering hope. It never worked out.

Recently, two of those failed experiments were on the move, and it must leave Commanders’ fans chuckling in bemusement. The Minnesota Vikings traded Sam Howell to the Philadelphia Eagles — his third club since being dealt from Washington less than 18 months ago. To replace him, the NFC North club signed free agent Carson Wentz.

Sam Howell replaced by failed Commanders trade bust in latest career blow

Howell and Wentz came to Washington at the same time. Wentz arrived from the Indianapolis Colts in a trade shortly before the 2022 NFL Draft. The North Carolina product was chosen in the fifth round. The plan was for the veteran to be the starter, while the rookie would get time to develop behind backup Taylor Heinicke.

Wentz did not play well and then suffered an injury, which effectively ended his brief time in D.C. after half a season. Howell got to start the final game of 2022 as something of an audition.

With Wentz and Heinicke both gone in 2023, a woefully unprepared Howell battled gamely through 17 games but could never establish himself as a reliable starting quarterback. He would be traded almost as soon as a new regime took control of the franchise.

The Commanders got third and fifth-round draft selections from the Seattle Seahawks in exchange for Howell, a fourth and sixth-round pick. He never made a mark and was again moved, this time to the Vikings. By this point, his price had diminished to the point at which the franchise was only able to move up 30 spots in the fifth round of the 2025 draft by trading him.

For his part, since leaving Washington, Wentz has bounced from the Los Angeles Rams to the Kansas City Chiefs, filling in for veteran starters in a pinch. His play has been just what you’d expect from a journeyman.

Now, the Eagles are trading a couple of late-round picks to acquire Howell and a late pick of their own. He will provide insurance as Tanner McKee recovers from a finger injury on his throwing hand. The issue is not expected to keep him on the sidelines too long, so barring an emergency, Howell is not likely to see the field for Philadelphia.

Minnesota concluded that Howell didn’t fit into their plans behind J.J. McCarthy. This is one more setback for a young signal-caller, who, less than two years ago, was being considered a potential starter in Washington. And it is further proof of how decisively general manager Adam Peters moved to rebuild the moribund roster he inherited in 2024.

Of the nine quarterbacks who played for Rivera in Washington, Howell and Wentz join Kyle Allen (Detroit Lions) and Jacoby Brissett (Arizona Cardinals) as likely backups in 2025. Heinicke appears locked in a battle with Trey Lance to be a backup with the Los Angeles Chargers.

Commanders’ fans can take great solace in the fact that they now have one of the best signal callers in the league in Jayden Daniels. Backup Marcus Mariota is better than any of the also-rans who operated the offense under Rivera.

That's no consolation to Howell, who's now reeling from his most embarrassing setback yet.

More Commanders news and analysis