Veteran Viking Silences the Doubters
The reports of Sam Howell’s gridiron death were an exaggeration (typed in Mark Twain vernacular).
A veteran Viking made a strong statement in the preseason, erasing doubts with an impressive debut. Here’s how the veteran changed the conversation for now.
Howell struggled early at Minnesota Vikings training camp a couple of weeks ago, but after a fanciful preseason showing last weekend, it’s safe to say that veteran signal-caller has turned a corner.
Not a Dud After All? Sam Howell Suddenly Thrives
Howell is competing this summer to keep a QB2 job in the Twin Cities.
Sam Howell Shines in First Preseason Game
Howell entered last weekend’s preseason game after a brief showing from Minnesota’s QB1, J.J. McCarthy. The ex-Seattle Seahawk promptly delivered a commendable few drives, ending his first purple preaseason game with 105 passing yards on 13 attempts, with 11 completions.
That man looked the part of a QB2.
Star Tribune‘s La Velle Neal III wrote, “Howell needed Saturday’s performance to remind viewers why the Vikings believe he can capably back up McCarthy. Because practice reports have suggested otherwise.”
“Perhaps Howell just needed to face something other than Brian Flores’ diabolical defense. Even O’Connell suggested that he had not seen that version of Howell until Saturday.”
Here’s some footage:
A Rocky Training Camp
Howell was not stellar at the start of training camp, which began in late July and continued into early August. He just wasn’t.
Every day brought the news of a new interception, heightening the possible need for a QB2 alternative in Minnesota, with free agents like Carson Wentz and C.J. Beathard still looking for employment.
As training camp progressed, however, Howell stabilized, and for about a week and a half, Howell has erased some of his early camp sins. The preseason display felt like a continuation of Howell’s camp reclamation.
Recalling Howell’s 2023 Efforts
Howell is no stranger to mass production. In 2023, before the dawn of the Jayden Daniels era, Howell nearly threw for 4,000 passing yards for the Washington Commanders, complete with 25 touchdowns.
The problem? Howell took too many sacks, holding onto the ball for too long, not unlike Caleb Williams with the Chicago Bears last season.
Minnesota fired off a trade for Howell in April’s draft, swapping menial late-round picks with Seattle for his services. Until the win over Houston, some fans had buyer’s remorse.
Panic by Fans for a New QB2
Because Howell struggled early at training camp, the team’s loyalists began to daydream about trades for quarterbacks for Jameis Winston of the New York Giants or Trey Lance from the Los Angeles Chargers.
Those quarterbacks had not floundered at training camp, and Lance shone in the first preseason game a few weeks ago.
Fast forward to the week after Minnesota’s first preseason game, and Howell has silenced the doubters, putting QB2 anxiety entirely at bay.
More on Howell
Seattle Seahawks-themed media seemed to lament Howell’s transition to Minnesota after the preseason game, even sounding jealous or remorseful.
12thManRising.com‘s Lee Vowell wrote, “In the Seahawks’ first preseason game, Drew Lock faced many of the Las Vegas Raiders’ starters and wasn’t very good at first. He threw a bad interception, ending an otherwise promising drive. He did have a touchdown toss before he left the game, but that was against Vegas backups. Lock finished 12 of 22 for 147 yards with the TD and the pick.”
“Meanwhile, Howell played tremendously for the Vikings in his preseason debut. He didn’t throw a touchdown pass, but did run for one. He also finished 11 of 13 for 105 yards and was under control. Maybe Howell will succeed with Minnesota because of the offensive brilliance of head coach Kevin O’Connell, and Howell was a bad fit in former Seattle offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb’s system. That probably wasn’t Howell’s fault.”
At the time of the draft-day trade, most Seahawks fans had no beef with letting Howell walk.
Vowell continued, “Grubb’s system was a bad one for the NFL. But Howell wasn’t awful in his one season as a starter in the NFL, which was with the Washington Commanders in 2023. His limited time with Seattle shouldn’t have implied that he would be bad in a better offensive system.”
“Ultimately, Sam Howell might be quite good for the Minnesota Vikings if he has to play QB1 snaps, and Drew Lock will remain inconsistent if he has to start for the Seattle Seahawks. It might have been better (and cheaper) to just keep Sam Howell in Seattle.”
Howell is expected to start this Saturday for Minnesota against the New England Patriots, as head coach Kevin O’Connell will rest most, if not all, of his starters.
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