Commanders News: Chase Young, Ron Rivera, Curtis Samuel and Sam Howell
By Dean Jones
Commanders QB Sam Howell's QBR ranked
It was a rough and smooth performance all at the same time where Sam Howell was concerned in Week 1. While there were some obvious nerves from the quarterback - which wasn't unexpected considering this was only his second career NFL start and the first in front of a sold-out crowd at FedEx Field - he showed enough to suggest significant improvements could emerge once everything slows down for the signal-caller.
Howell turned the football over too much, which needs to change. The former fifth-round pick also needs to trust his reads and deliver the ball with more conviction to stand any chance of continuing this positive momentum at the Denver Broncos in Week 2.
Still, it was largely positive and definitely something Howell and the Commanders can build upon as the competition gets tougher in the coming weeks. The North Carolina product got a 42.5 QBR out of 100 as a result of his efforts, which placed him at No. 19 in ESPN's current rankings.
Brocky Purdy of the San Francisco 49ers led the way with a phenomenal 89.5 QBR. Propping up the table was Daniel Jones, who oversaw a disastrous 40-0 loss for the New York Giants at the hands of their fierce NFC East rival Dallas Cowboys.
As previously stated, Howell is going to get better nobody should get carried away after just one contest. This weekend's clash in high altitude in Denver versus an outstanding defense should tell us more about where the signal-caller stands currently.