Sam Howell vs. Jacoby Brissett: Inside Commanders 'Drab' QB Battle

It was big news when the Washington Commanders decided to start then-rookie quarterback Sam Howell against the Dallas Cowboys in the season finale last year. 

And it was bigger news when it was revealed the Commanders would be rolling forward with Howell as the QB1 entering this season’s plans and preparations. 

Entering as the top guy didn’t mean getting it handed to him outright, and Washington added veteran quarterback Jacoby Brissett to come in as competition for Howell.

According to one NFL.com analyst, however, the so-called competition between Howell and Brissett is less than interesting, and is downright boring.

More boring than the current year rookies involved in battles even.

“Among (quarterback) battles not involving rookies, it’s even more drab,” says NFL.com. “Should we be drumming up Sam Howell versus Jacoby Brissett as a heavyweight fight in Washington?…Sorry, folks. I suspect this just isn’t the year for sizzling QB competitions to burn up your screens.”

Unfortunately, the writer may have a point. 

Not that the quarterback situation isn’t an enticing one with the Commanders, but the battle itself so far has been anything but. 

There’s been no real mixture or balance of Brissett leading practices as the top quarterback compared to Howell. 

And that fact give the feeling not that the two are equals seeking an edge, but that Howell is the man until he proves otherwise. 

Which may be semantics at the end of the day since coach Ron Rivera has maintained since it first hit the news cycle that Howell would be given the opportunity to win the job, that he was in fact getting every opportunity to prove he can be the man. 

Competition usually means just that, however, so it’s not hard to see why those observing the Commanders’ practices would expect even a lopsided split between the two as first-team quarterbacks. 

The more Washington puts on tape, the better Howell appears to look, and the more his coaches rave about him the more it looks like this made-for-HBO position battle is anything but.