It’s possible that quarterback Sam Howell of the Washington Commanders will only be on the bench for a short period of time. A hamstring injury that Jacoby Brissett sustained during practice was the reason that he was put to the injury list. Brissett had been anointed the starting quarterback earlier in the week.
Brissett’s availability for Sunday’s game against the San Francisco 49ers is currently under question. After attending meetings on Thursday, he complained of experiencing tightness in his hamstring, and he underwent therapy that evening as well as again on Friday.
Howell will start in the event that he is unable to play, which comes four days after coach Ron Rivera announced that he would be replacing him with Brissett.
In each of the two most recent games, which were both losses to the New York Jets and the Los Angeles Rams, Howell had been placed on the bench. In each of their games, the Commanders (4-11) were behind by a margin of at least 20 points.
Brissett was able to rally the team in both instances. In a loss to the Rams by a score of 28-20, he presided over touchdown drives in each of the successive series. A week later, when the Commanders were playing the Jets, Brissett led three consecutive touchdown drives, which allowed them to take a 28-27 lead until the Jets kicked a field goal in the last minute of the game.
Brissett has completed 78.3 percent of his passes for 224 yards along with three touchdowns and no interceptions in the two games that he has played. He did not lose his job.
Brissett, who has started 48 games over the course of his eight-year career, would become Rivera’s ninth starting quarterback in his four seasons by virtue of his current position.
While Howell has thrown 19 touchdown passes for the season, he has also thrown 17 interceptions, which is the most in the NFL. In terms of total passing yards, he is ranked eleventh with 3,624.
Because of injuries, Washington will have a difficult time competing against the 49ers, regardless of who starts as quarterback for the team. On Sunday, the Commanders will be missing a few starters, including two offensive linemen who will be starting: center Tyler Larsen (knee) and left tackle Charles Leno Jr. (calf). Both of these players are beginning their careers with the team. Benjamin St-Juste, who had a concussion, and Kendall Fuller, who suffered a knee injury, will also be unable to play because of their injuries.