Jacoby Brissett, with the experience of an eight-year NFL career where he has played for five teams, understands what Sam Howell might be thinking.
Howell, the Commanders’ starter and fifth-round pick in 2022, was benched for a second consecutive game Sunday against the Jets, and Brissett, who replaced him, nearly orchestrated a 20-point comeback before Greg Zuerlein’s last-second, game-winning field goal gave the Jets a 30-28 win.
And while Brissett acknowledged that there’s no “magic pill” for Howell to ensure that everything will click like it has at times — including when he was among the league’s passing leaders last month — this season, he added that Howell can turn to him for help navigating this rocky stretch.
“I told him ‘This is going to be the hardest part of your career right now. It’s going to feel like you’re in this by yourself. It’s snowballing. It’s one thing after another, one thing after another,’” Brissett told reporters Sunday at MetLife Stadium, according to the Washington Post. “But I know from being in this league, man, the good ones find a way to get to the other side. No matter how long it takes, how hard it is. You surround yourself with good people.
“I hope he leans on me as one of those good people that will help him get through this, because I know I will.”
Howell completed just 6 of 22 passes for 56 yards and two interceptions before getting replaced midway through the third quarter — after he tossed the second pick.
Brissett entered and immediately sparked a touchdown drive, connecting with Logan Thomas for a 15-yard touchdown pass and then leading a nine-play, 77-yard possession that ended with another touchdown when the Commanders got the ball back.
A similar trend unfolded in Week 15 against the Rams, too, when Brissett took over for Howell and threw two touchdown passes, but head coach Ron Rivera turned back to Howell for the Jets game with Washington already eliminated from postseason contention — though he didn’t name a starter for their Week 17 game against the 49ers, according to ProFootballTalk.
“I told him, ‘I’m excited for this part in your career because not a lot of people get this experience and the ones that come out on the other side have a better story than a lot of people,’” Brissett said Sunday. “I’m sure he’ll appreciate this part of his journey at the end of his career.”
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