Commanders not 'all-in' on Sam Howell as starting quarterback?

Don't write the name of Sam Howell atop the Washington Commanders depth chart at the quarterback position in pen just yet. 

For a piece published Wednesday, NFC East reporter Ralph Vacchiano of Fox Sports noted Commanders head coach Ron Rivera is "definitely not all-in" on anointing Howell his QB1 over free-agency signing Jacoby Brissett roughly two months before Washington opens the regular season versus the Arizona Cardinals on Sept. 10. 

"That’s because they really do want to see how it goes first," Vacchiano explained about a competition between Howell and Brissett that presumably could last through the preseason. "They believe in Howell and they think he’s going to be good — so much so that they were willing to trust him in a year whereas, Rivera probably needs to win to keep his job. But they are leaving the door open in case there’s any sign this summer that he’s not quite ready, or that Brissett is better." 

Intentionally or not, Vacchiano seemingly responded to takes offered by the likes of Commanders wide receiver Jahan Dotson and NFL insider Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated. Dotson confidently declared in June he believed "Howell's gonna be our guy," and Breer subsequently reported that Howell has a "significant" lead over Brissett regarding what appears to be a legitimate quarterback battle that will resume during training camp. 

"...The Commanders have left themselves an out, which is different from giving an all-in commitment," Vacchiano continued. "They have an insurance policy that they’re making it clear they’re not afraid to use. If all goes well, Howell will be the Day 1 starter and they’ll probably ride him as far as they can. But their actions show they know there’s a possibility some things will go wrong. Just in case they do, they have a Plan B standing by." 

That's understandable considering Howell is an unproven 2022 fifth-round draft pick who only attempted 19 regular-season passes as a rookie and who completed 11 of those throws for 169 yards with a touchdown and an interception. 

In June, Brissett suggested he wouldn't have signed with the Commanders if he thought he had no chance of leapfrogging Howell on the depth chart before September. If nothing else, Vacchiano indicated the door remains open for Brissett to win the gig regardless of what others have to say about the matter.