Despite only having one handoff snap against the Atlanta Falcons, backup quarterback Sam Howell made his debut for the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday night against the Green Bay Packers. Unfortunately, it did not go well.
Geno Smith’s knee injury forced Howell into his first significant action of the season, facing a tough situation behind a struggling offensive line and a 20-3 deficit. Could he showcase some of the positive moments he had last season with the Washington Commanders?
It seems unlikely, as the 2024 Packers defense is much stronger than the 2023 Seahawks defense. Howell struggled greatly.
Howell only completed 5 out of 14 passes for 24 yards, took 4 sacks, and threw a game-sealing interception to Edgerrin Cooper. It was a rough performance that showcased his struggles under pressure.
Even after accounting for sack yardage and rushing yards, Howell finished with only a +5 net yard game on 19 dropbacks. This was one of the worst showings by a quarterback with 15+ dropbacks in the last 25 years.
Despite his struggles, Howell did lead Seattle’s only touchdown drive, completing three passes for 21 yards before Zach Charbonnet scored. However, this was the only successful drive out of seven before garbage time.
Howell shared his thoughts on his performance after the game.
“I know I have to do better,” Howell stated. “My job is to be ready to perform well and help the team win, and I didn’t do that today. I need to watch the film, learn from my mistakes, and improve for the next game.”
Regarding the interception, Howell admitted he misread the coverage.
“I thought Noah Fant was open between the linebackers, but I made a poor decision,” Howell explained.
With Smith’s injury status uncertain, Howell may be called upon to start for at least one game as the Seahawks aim to get back into playoff contention.
Moving forward, Howell will need to show improvement in practice and hope for a better performance next time he takes the field.
