Commanders are doing a bad job of protecting Sam Howell

Washington Commanders quarterback Sam Howell. Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports

Commanders are doing an all-time bad job of protecting Sam Howell

By Vinny Somma | Last updated 10/6/23

A surprising 2-0 start to begin the season masked a number of shortcomings for the Washington Commanders. However, a three-game skid has since unearthed Washington's deficiencies that were previously being swept under the rug.

One of the Commanders' biggest faults has been their inability to keep second-year signal-caller Sam Howell upright.

Howell was sacked five times in Washington's 40-20 loss to the Chicago Bears on Thursday night, the third consecutive game the Commanders surrendered at least five sacks. For reference, the Miami Dolphins, Detroit Lions, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Kansas City Chiefs have all surrendered five or fewer sacks for the entire season.

Through the first five games of 2023, Howell has been sacked an NFL-high 29 times, putting him on pace to be sacked an NFL-record 99 times by season's end.

#Commanders QB Sam Howell has now been sacked 29 times in the first 5 games this year, that puts him on pace to be sacked a record 99 times this season.

The previous NFL record is 76 by then #Texans rookie David Carr in 2002.

The next closest most sacked QB this season is… https://t.co/puw25SJ1X1 pic.twitter.com/wKLg5505ov
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) October 6, 2023

Former No. 1 overall pick David Carr, who endured 76 sacks as a rookie for the then-expansion Houston Texans, currently holds the record for most sacked quarterback in an NFL season. With the NFL implementing more spread and quick-pass concepts in recent years, only two quarterbacks have been sacked more than 55 times in a season since 2014 — Dak Prescott (sacked 56 times in 2018) and Deshaun Watson (sacked 62 times in 2018).

History shows fifth-round picks have a slim chance of panning out as viable starting NFL quarterbacks. However, Howell could be an outlier. The North Carolina product has portrayed plus-arm talent and serious moxie over his six-game tenure as a starter.

Sam Howell is not the problem with Washington right now. He's BALLING. @heykayadams https://t.co/zbrBsPlzCT pic.twitter.com/HNW47OsSBY
— Up & Adams (@UpAndAdamsShow) October 6, 2023

His 68.6% completion percentage is the 12th best in the NFL this season and is currently better than the marks owned by both quarterbacks who started in last season's Super Bowl, Jalen Hurts (67.7) and Patrick Mahomes (64.3).

Regardless of how much Howell flashes as a passer, it will prove irrelevant if Washington can't protect him. Unfortunately for the 23-year-old quarterback, the writing may already be on the wall. Washington has allowed the second-most sacks (77) since the beginning of the 2022 season, meaning a quick fix is almost certainly not in the cards.

More must-reads: