Sam Howell's top target good to go for season opener
The Washington Commanders announced on Friday that Pro Bowl wide receiver Terry McLaurin is active for their Week 1 matchup with the Arizona Cardinals.
His status was unclear after he injured his toe on August 21, but head coach Ron Rivera told the media "we're excited to have him ready to roll."
This is great news not just for Rivera, but starting quarterback Sam Howell as well.
Last season, Howell was a rookie chosen in the fifth round of the 2022 NFL Draft and didn't see the field until he started Week 17 against Dallas.
Now he's officially "the guy," in Washington and, if he's going to reach the potential he showed at UNC, will need the team's most talented receiving option to be healthy.
Safety blanket targets are invaluable for any quarterback, but especially young ones.
Patrick Mahomes relied on Travis Kelce in his first year as a starter, with Kelce catching 103 passes for 1,336 yards. When Buffalo acquired Stefon Diggs for Josh Allen's third year under center, Allen increased his season passing yards by nearly 1,500, with Diggs catching 127 balls for 1,535 of Allen's 4,544 total passing yards.
This is the type of role McLaurin needs to (and is capable of) playing in order for Howell to take the next step in his development. As Washington opens against what is expected to be one of the NFL's worst teams at home against the Cardinals, they have ideal circumstances to begin establishing that relationship.
Arizona's secondary allowed the highest success rate of any in the NFL last season according to Pro Football Focus. They traded away expected starting cornerback Isaiah Simmons to the New York Giants this preseason, and were ranked 29th by PFF before the deal.
Howell also is unlikely to have to worry about too much of a pass rush bailing out Arizona's poor defensive backfield, as the Cardinals defensive line came in dead last in the preseason PFF rankings.
Against what should be an exceptionally weak defense, McLaurin's presence will help Howell in multiple ways.
The attention he gets will take away from the energy spent on covering Washington's other talented receivers, combined with McLaurin's own ability to get open on his own, should create wide-open windows for Howell.
Confidence is one of the most important attributes in a successful quarterback, and the best way for young players to build it is through early success. Week 1 is the perfect opportunity for Howell and the Commanders to do just that.
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