Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Howell might not have been brought in this offseason to be a starter for the upcoming season, but that doesn’t mean he’s not motivated.
After being the starter for the Washington Commanders last season, Howell was traded along with some draft picks to the Seahawks to be the backup to Geno Smith.
During a recent interview, though, Howell made it clear that he’s ready to compete, even if it appears to be a backup role at this point.
“In this league, to be able to play, you’ve got to compete and that’s what I’m willing to do, no matter what the situation is, no matter who the starter is,” Howell said according to Tim Booth of the Associated Press. “If I’m the starter, I’m coming to compete every single day. Geno has been great. I’ve learned a lot from Geno, and he’s a great player. I have a lot of respect for him and everything he’s been through in his career.”
Some believed Howell would get another shot at being a starter this offseason, but barring any injuries, that won’t happen this year with the Seahawks. Howell is taking this chance to improve his game in hopes that he’ll get another chance down the road.
“I think I could play some smarter ball. I think there were times where we were down big in some games, I was a little too aggressive just trying to make something happen trying to get us back in the game,” Howell said. “The turnovers are just way too high for what I wanted and what the team needed. I think that’s definitely something I can take from last year.”
Last season with the Commanders, Howell completed 63.4 percent of his passes for 3,946 yards, 21 touchdowns, and 21 interceptions. If it wasn’t for the turnovers, the Commanders might have decided to give him another year as the starter, but it’s hard to be a long-term starter in the NFL when you throw 21 interceptions in a season.
Howell is saying all the right things this offseason, but he needs to prove it on the practice field and during the preseason.
If Smith were to go down with an injury, and Sam Howell could keep the turnovers down, the Seahawks could win some games with the former North Carolina Tar Heel standout under center. Only time will tell if his willingness to compete will lead to success on the field.
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