Washington Commanders rookie quarterback [autotag]Sam Howell[/autotag] shined in the final preseason game.
Howell had the opportunity to close out the preseason for the Commanders and did not hold back in the passing or rushing game. The rookie quarterback out of UNC showed Washington fans what Tar Heel faithful already knew, his ability to use his feet to move the chains.
Howell rushed for 62 yards on eight carries, for an average of 7.8 yards. The passing attack was also solid, completing 24 out of 35 passes for 280 passing yards and one touchdown. The one downside of the Saturday game was Howell seeing the turf a lot, being on the receiving end of five sacks and 12 quarterback hits.
Watch how the bench reacts to Sam Howell on this play.
14 can ball, folks.
— Ryan Fowler (@_RyanFowler_) August 28, 2022
The same sort of damage Howell took at UNC cant be sustainable on the NFL level, and the issue of holding onto the ball too long needs to be addressed.
Howell’s strong outing put the league on notice but was not enough to get the victory, as Washington fell short in the 17-15 nail-biter. As it stands, quarterback Carson Wentz is the starter, with Taylor Heinicke playing back up and Howell set as a third string. However, a few slip-ups could offer Howell the opportunity to see the field in the regular season.
Follow us @TarHeelsWire on Twitter and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of North Carolina Tar Heels news, notes and opinions.
Let us know your thoughts, comment on this story below. Join the conversation today.