Sam Howell horror show proves why the Commanders had to move on

Things looked promising for Sam Howell after an encouraging preseason debut for the Minnesota Vikings. That's not the case anymore after the former Washington Commanders quarterback reverted to type.

The future is looking increasingly precarious for Howell. This is his third team in just over a year. The Commanders moved on from the signal-caller when they locked in on Jayden Daniels at No. 2 overall in the 2024 NFL Draft. The Seattle Seahawks also disposed of the North Carolina product after he failed to prove worthy of being Geno Smith's long-term successor.

Howell is in the last season of his rookie deal. Learning under a phenomenal coach, Kevin O'Connell, is only going to help his cause. However, he's got no chance of seeing the field unless J.J. McCarthy is forced to miss time.

Sam Howell is proving the Commanders were right to trade him while there was still value

Being the backup might not be a foregone conclusion just yet, either. The Vikings started Howell in their second warmup clash against the New England Patriots. This came after an encouraging performance last weekend, but he couldn't sustain this positive upturn in production.

It was a disastrous start for Howell. Therowing a pick dented any slim confidence he may have had coming into the contest. He completed one pass from five attempts for 13 yards. This earned him the dubious distinction of a 0.0 passer rating before he went to the sidelines.

Howell is experiencing some growing pains. It's always a rollercoaster with him. One game, he'll be lights out, and then it'll be a nightmare of epic proportions during the next. His once solace was the fact that Max Brosmer and Brett Rypien didn't exactly shine under center, either.

Considering the Vikings traded for Howell this offseason, he remains the frontrunner to back up McCarthy in 2025. But this heightens the need for last year's first-round pick to stay healthy after missing his entire rookie campaign with a knee issue.

It also further vindicates the Commanders' decision to let Howell go in favor of Daniels. This was a franchise-altering shift that instantly brought a new era of prosperity to Washington. And unfortunately for the 2022 fifth-round pick, he became the sacrificial lamb.

The Vikings will try to remove the kinks from Howell's game and rebuild his confidence to a level that won't disrupt their momentum if McCarthy misses time. But based on this preseason horror show, there is a significant amount of hard work ahead for all involved.

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