With the Washington Commanders out of the playoff race, the team made the decision to go to rookie Sam Howell for the Week 18 battle against the Dallas Cowboys.
This is Howell’s first career start after he fell in the 2022 NFL draft, landing with Washington in the fifth round. Howell has the chance to prove he can be a starter next season and give the franchise some tape early before the competition begins.
And it didn’t take Howell long to get things started.
Howell’s first career pass was a 16-yard touchdown to Terry McLaurin as Washington jumped out to the early lead. Howell delivered a nice ball and McLaurin went in for the score:
First career touchdown pass for #Commanders rookie QB Sam Howell!pic.twitter.com/goul1FScj0
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) January 8, 2023
Howell did throw an interception later in the first half and has struggled since then but Dallas’ defense is among the best in the league. So it’s a tough test for him early on.
Here’s how social media reacted to Howell’s touchdown:
SAM HOWELL TOUCHDOWN PUT HIM IN CANTON
— Aaron Lichstrahl (@AJ_Lich) January 8, 2023
SAM HOWELL’S FIRST NFL THROW IS A TOUCHDOWN!!!
— Jeffrey Kahn (@JeffEKahn) January 8, 2023
How’s Terry McLaurin gonna throw Sam Howell’s first career touchdown ball into the stands?! 🤣
— Steve Carpenter (@stevencnc) January 8, 2023
SAM HOWELL THROWS TO SCARY TERRY FOR THE TOUCHDOWN, LEFT HAND UP. THIS IS THE HOWELL REVENGE TOUR LAUNCH
— Barstool DMV (@Barstooldmv) January 8, 2023
Tar Heel standout Sam Howell gets his first career touchdown pass
— Jonathan Jones (@jjones9) January 8, 2023
SAM HOWELL SCORED A TOUCHDOWN AGAINST THE COWBOYS DEFENSE LMAOOO
— x – 𝙅𝙖𝙢𝙚𝙨 (9-6-1)…
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