In what is expected to be his final game as head coach of the Washington Commanders, Ron Rivera is making the Dallas Cowboys wait on who he will start at quarterback in Week 18.
Last week, Rivera waited until Wednesday to announce that Jacoby Brissett would replace Sam Howell under center for Washington’s Week 17 game against the San Francisco 49ers. Brissett had replaced Howell in the second half of Washington’s previous two games.
Things wouldn’t go as planned, though, as Brissett suffered a hamstring injury late last week and was questionable for Sunday’s game. He tested the hamstring before the game and could not go, forcing Howell back into the lineup.
Howell played well for three quarters but struggled in the fourth quarter, turning the ball over twice in a 27-10 loss.
“Well, we don’t have to let anybody know until tomorrow, so we’re just going to wait,” Rivera said Tuesday when asked who the Week 18 starter would be vs. Dallas.
“No, I think we don’t want to give them any head start or any of that,” Rivera answered when asked why he was waiting.
Does it matter who starts on Sunday?
The Commanders are 4-12, having lost seven straight games, while the Cowboys are playing for the NFC East title and the No. 2 overall seed in the NFC playoffs.
One more loss would put Washington in a favorable position to pick No. 2 in the 2024 NFL draft.