Rushed-in Sam Howell shows in loss to Packers Seahawks still don’t have their QB of future
He looked unprepared. Which he was.
He looked seldom-used. Which he is.
In all, Sam Howell looked like he did during his alarming training camp, back in his first months with the Seahawks.
As Sunday night proved for all who hadn’t seen the team’s practices last summer into fall, two weeks before this year becomes next year on the calendar, Seattle remains in the situation it was in last spring.
The Seahawks still don’t have their quarterback of the future.
Unless, that is, you think what Howell did Sunday night will suffice for beyond 2025.
Forced into playing against the Green Bay Packers because of starter Geno Smith’s knee injury, the 24-year-old Howell didn’t do anything to suggest he will be Seattle’s QB beyond his and the 34-year-old Smith’s contracts ending this time next year.
“I mean, wasn’t good enough to win,” Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald said after his team lost 30-13 at home to Green Bay.
It wasn’t that close.
Howell replaced the injured Smith midway through the third quarter. The starter for the 4-13 Washington Commanders for the 2023 season when he led the NFL in interceptions completed 5 of 14 passes for 24 yards Sunday night.
“Yeah, I think at the end of the day I’ve got to be better. I think my job is to be ready to go in there and play well and help this team win, and I didn’t do that today,” Howell said, following his first extensive action in a regular-season game since Jan. 7, 2024, when he threw two interceptions and got sacked four times for Washington in a 38-10 loss to Dallas.
“I’ve just got to be better. Watch the film, learn from it. Definitely we had chances there in the second half. Defense played well, put us in good position. I’ve just got to be better.”
He got sacked four times Sunday night. He often held onto the ball well past 3 seconds, as if he thought the Seahawks had the best offensive line in football, not one of the NFL’s worst.
He scrambled once. So that was 19 drop backs yet just five completions.
That has happened only 20 times in the last 25 NFL seasons, ESPN analyst Benjamin Solak reported.
“Just got to find a way to get the ball out,” Howell said. “At the end of the day sacks are a quarterback stat, and I’ve got to hit the check downs a little faster and get the ball out of my hand before they get to me.”
Sam Howell and the ball
Down 23-13 with under 6 minutes remaining, Howell threw an interception under Green Bay’s two-deep zone coverage. The pass went directly to Packers linebacker Edgerrin Cooper. That was while Howell was trying to connect with tight end Noah Fant down the hash marks.
“Yeah, they were playing a lot of Cover 2. Kind of had a four-vertical concept and kind of thought I had Noah there in between the two linebackers,” Howell said. “Just got to make a smart decision.”
He almost lost a fumble while getting hit. The officials ruled Howell’s hand was (barely) moving forward when he lost the ball for a generously ruled incomplete pass.
“I know he’s disappointed. Just didn’t feel like we were getting the ball out on time. And then it wasn’t complemented with our pass protection,” Macdonald said. “I know we gave up a bunch of sacks, and they did a good job, too. They covered the routes and rushed the passer, and it was a complementary game on their end.”
The Packers sacked Smith and Howell seven times in all. They pressured Smith on 38% of his drop backs, and Howell on 53% of his. Green Bay is not a high-pressure team by NFL standards, yet they saw enough tape of Seattle’s offensive line before this game to come at the Seahawks’ blockers. The Packers’ 16 pressures tied for their most this season.
Green Bay finished with the seven sacks with 12 quarterback hits. The previous week in its 30-18 win at Arizona, the team’s fourth straight victory, Seattle allowed no sacks and only two hits on Smith.
Sam Howell’s week
Backup quarterbacks get next to zero practice repetitions on the game plan the starters run all week. So Howell was the least prepared he’ll ever be trying to lead Seattle’s offense.
Wide receiver Tyler Lockett said after this game Howell throws behind Smith to a receiver Smith doesn’t throw to on a given pass play in practice, so the backup QB can retain at least a minimal connection on the field with the top receivers.
But early this week Howell figures to be the man running the Seahawks’ starting offense in practices. Smith is going to get imaging tests on his injured knee Monday. Macdonald said Sunday night he and the team didn’t know yet who is going to be Seattle’s starter Sunday against the Minnesota Vikings (11-2) at Lumen Field.
The Seahawks (8-6) need to win to keep pace with the now-first-place Rams (8-6) atop the NFC West. At least maintain having the same record until they play each other in the regular-season finale in three weeks, the first weekend of January.
Can Howell possibly get the Seahawks there?
Howell said the limping, injured Smith was encouraging him that he could do it during the second half of this loss to the Packers.
“Yeah, he was very encouraging, just trying to help me get comfortable out there,” Howell said. “Obviously, he’s been in that situation before, as well, and knows it’s kind of tough to come in a game kind of coming off the bench.
“At the end of the day it’s what I get paid to do and I’ve got to be better.
“But, no, Geno was great. He’s a great friend of mine and it was good to have him out there.”
This story was originally published December 15, 2024 at 11:00 PM.
