Running backs Brian Robinson Jr. and Antonio Gibson are important options for passers as well as rushers, according to Washington Commanders coach Ron Rivera.
The Washington Commanders hinted that they are shifting some of their attention toward 2024 earlier this month when they traded pass rushers Chase Young and Montez Sweat before the NFL trade deadline.
The Commanders are 4-5, though, having defeated the New England Patriots in Week 9. The last eight games on their schedule are by no means meaningless, regardless of whether they can wriggle their way back into a playoff spot.
Perhaps the most interesting thing to monitor for the remainder of the season in Washington will be the continued development of quarterback Sam Howell, especially as he starts to get more comfortable working with assistant head coach/offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy.
“I think we’re getting better each and every week, not only just me and EB, but I think as an offense as a whole,” Howell said. “I think we’re getting better each and every week and I think he’s calling some really good games and he’ll continue to do that. He prepares so hard and always has a good plan for us. For the most part we’ve been executing it, we just got to try to continue to finish drives and finish games in the fourth quarter.”
Howell has been sacked a staggering 44 times and thrown nine interceptions, both of which lead the NFL. However, he’s shown enough positive flashes that there’s a very real possibility that he’ll get a chance to start for Washington beyond this season. Perhaps with five picks in the first three rounds of the 2024 NFL Draft and more than $89 million in projected cap space, Washington will be able to drastically improve the offensive line in place to protect Howell next season.
The biggest question is whether Howell will get to continue to work with Bieniemy, or have his third playcaller in as many seasons. If coach Ron Rivera is fired by new owner Josh Harris this season, will Bieniemy be retained in his current position by the next coach? Or could Bieniemy be the next coach? As Howell and Bieniemy build chemistry, it would seem to be a mistake to break them up after this season, even if Rivera doesn’t return.
