UNC Football: Sam Howell named Week One Starter
![Aug 11, 2023; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Washington Commanders quarterback Sam Howell (14) warms up before the game between the Commanders and the Cleveland Browns at Cleveland Browns Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports Aug 11, 2023; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Washington Commanders quarterback Sam Howell (14) warms up before the game between the Commanders and the Cleveland Browns at Cleveland Browns Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/5f285c52338a17212d805eab32d13cb02b64ccfeae34152769642e3bfb6056fd.jpg)
Former UNC Football quarterback Sam Howell has been announced as the Washington Commanders starting quarterback in week one against the Arizona Cardinals.
In a post on X this morning by the Washington Commanders’ social media team, the organization formally announced that former UNC football star Sam Howell as the starting quarterback for the start of the 2023 season.
Sam Howell has been named the starting quarterback pic.twitter.com/XOfZu8mBxH
— Washington Commanders (@Commanders) August 18, 2023
Howell only played in one NFL game his rookie year, where he started against the Dallas Cowboys in the final week of the regular season. He led the Commanders to a 26-6 win as he recorded 169 passing yards on 11/19 passing while also one passing touchdown. Howell also ran the ball five times for 35 yards and a rushing touchdown.
The former Tar Heel started in his only preseason appearance thus far, as he threw for 77 yards and one touchdown while adding 35 yards and a rushing touchdown on the ground in the Commanders’ 17-15 win over Baltimore, snapping the Ravens 24-game preseason win streak.
The Washington Commanders quarterback room consists of NFL veteran Jacoby Brissett and tenured backup Jake Fromm. Both of these backups have started in the NFL at some point in their career, even if it was just a few games.
Howell, a former fifth-round pick of the Commanders, was a star for UNC Football during his time there as he broke many records including career passing yards (10,283) and passing touchdowns (92).
Watch Howell start his first NFL opening game, September 10th, at 1:00 PM EST against the Arizona Cardinals in Washington. This game will be streamed on NFL Redzone and the FUBO app, given you have a subscription.
dark. Next. Sam Howell performs well in Preseason Opener
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