Commanders OC Scott Turner: QB Sam Howell will 'get opportunities'

Washington Commanders head coach Ron Rivera has made it clear to anybody who will listen that veteran Carson Wentz is his starting quarterback for at least the 2022 NFL season after Washington acquired Wentz from the Indianapolis Colts in March. 

Washington already had Taylor Heinicke on the roster serving as the club's QB2 before it selected former North Carolina signal-caller Sam Howell in the fifth round of the NFL Draft. It's expected that Howell will learn the NFL game while holding a figurative clipboard and watching Wentz play on Sundays, but offensive coordinator Scott Turner recently explained the rookie will receive multiple chances to impress during training camp sessions. 

"Normally, in training camp you’re repping three groups, so Carson, Taylor, and Sam will each have their own groups," Turner said, according to Hogs Haven. "Based on how guys do, they may get an opportunity with another group. 

"We like Sam a lot. We had him graded high. We’re really surprised he dropped to where he did. We were happy to get him. But, he’s a young guy. He only spent 3 years in college. He’s only 21. So, this is an opportunity for him to come in and learn how to play behind two QBs that have played a significant amount of time in the NFL. However he does, that will dictate where it goes. He’ll get opportunities. How you do with those opportunities dictates the next opportunity that you get."

As Charean Williams noted for Pro Football Talk, some believed at this time last year Howell could be the first quarterback drafted in April 2022. Instead, Washington will be hoping he evolves into the top value pick of this year's player-selection process.