The Facts: HC Ron Rivera has said several times since the season ended that Howell will be the team’s “QB1” entering the offseason program. But on Tuesday, Rivera explicitly clarified that doesn’t mean Howell is going to be behind center when Washington’s season opens in September. “He’s not our starter,” Rivera said in his Combine press conference. “He’s coming in as the QB1. He’ll get a great opportunity to be our starter. But we do want to find a veteran quarterback. We have Taylor Heinicke that’s a free agent. We’ve got to work through that as well. And we’ll see what happens from there.”
Diehards Line:Rivera noted that there are several things the team likes about Howell, including what he displayed the year before he was drafted out of North Carolina. In his Week 18 start against the Cowboys, Howell completed 11-of-19 passes for 169 yards with a touchdown and interception. He also rushed for 35 yards with a TD. While Rivera may have plenty of confidence in Howell, the young quarterback will have plenty to prove throughout the upcoming offseason program.