Commanders announce Howell will start Sunday against Cowboys

FILE – Washington Commanders quarterback Sam Howell, left, talks with coach Ron Rivera during the NFL football team’s rookie minicamp, May 6, 2022,…

FILE – Washington Commanders quarterback Sam Howell, left, talks with coach Ron Rivera during the NFL football team’s rookie minicamp, May 6, 2022, in Ashburn, Va. Coach Rivera says rookie Sam Howell is expected start at quarterback for the Washington Commanders in their season finale against the Dallas Cowboys. It will be Howell’s NFL debut. Rivera said the decision was made to give Howell a look in case the fifth-round pick out of the University of North Carolina gets a chance to be a full-time starter in the pros. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, file)

by: Will Gonzalez

Posted: Jan 4, 2023 / 02:24 PM EST

Updated: Jan 4, 2023 / 02:24 PM EST

LOUDOUN COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) — Rookie quarterback Sam Howell will get his first NFL snaps this Sunday as the Washington Commanders host the Dallas Cowboys in their regular season finale.

The Commanders made it official with a tweet posted on the afternoon of Wednesday, Jan. 4.

Howell will be the Commanders’ third starting quarterback in as many weeks as in Week 17, Head Coach Ron Rivera went back to Carson Wentz, who started the first six games of the season before being benched in favor of Taylor Heinicke, who started in Weeks 7 through 16.

The Commanders have not won a game since November, when they defeated the Atlanta Falcons in Heinicke’s fifth win in six starts. They were eliminated from playoff contention in Week 17 after a 10-24 loss to the Cleveland Browns.

Heinicke will be a free agent at the conclusion of this season and Wentz has two years left in his contract. Wentz, who the Commanders traded for last March, only has guaranteed money until this season, meaning the team can cut him during the offseason with no effect to their salary cap situation.

If that happens, Howell will be the only quarterback on Washington’s roster heading into the 2023-2024 season.