Commanders' Jacoby Brissett makes starting intentions clear

Washington Commanders journeyman quarterback Jacoby Brissett isn't handing the starting job to 2022 fifth-round draft pick Sam Howell this summer. 

"For sure. I wouldn’t be here if it was something else," Brissett told reporters Tuesday about competing for the starting gig, per Josh Alper of Pro Football Talk. "If I thought otherwise, then I’d have a problem."

Washington signed Brissett in March presumably to have the 30-year-old serve as Howell's primary backup. By all accounts, the Commanders never actively pursued available veterans such as Baltimore Ravens star Lamar Jackson or Aaron Rodgers now of the New York Jets ahead of the 2023 NFL Draft, and Washington also passed on the chance to use a first-round choice to grab prospect Will Levis. 

Commanders head coach Ron Rivera previously indicated Howell is his starter but raised eyebrows when he said on Tuesday the 22-year-old may not finish the preseason as his QB1. Brissett sounds confident he could leapfrog Howell on the depth chart between the first Tuesday of June and the last day of August. 

"Anybody that steps on the field, we’re all in competition," Brissett continued during his comments. "Somebody is trying to take our jobs, somebody’s trying to earn a job. That’s what it is every day in this league. I’ve been in this league a while and that has always stuck with me and this year is no different." 

Howell attempted a total of 19 regular-season passes as a rookie and remains, at best, an unproven signal-caller, while Brissett first entered the league back in 2016 and most recently made 11 starts for the 2022 Cleveland Browns. According to ESPN stats, Brissett ended this past campaign ranked eighth among qualified players with a 60.0 adjusted QBR, 20th with an 88.9 passer rating and 22nd with a 64.0% completion percentage. Across his 11 starts, he tallied 12 touchdown passes and six interceptions with two rushing scores.