Brawl breaks out early in Cardinals-Commanders game after late hit on Sam Howell
The fireworks started early for the Arizona Cardinals and Washington Commanders after a hit on Sam Howell started a brawl.
Howell was on running near the sidelines and on his way out of bounds when Kyzir White laid the boom on him.
The hit forced Howell and down judge Derick Bowers to leave the game. Howell returned but Bowers went to the locker room holding his left arm.
The late hit drew a penalty as Washington went 91 yards down the field on the drive for a touchdown. Howell finished the drive with a seven-yard touchdown pass to Brian Robinson.
The score put the Commanders up 7-0.
Howell is one of the team’s captains along with wide receiver Terry McLaurin, defensive tackle Jonathan Allen, cornerback Kendall Fuller, safety Jeremy Reaves and punter Tress Way.
This is his first season opener as a starting quarterback in the NFL. He was drafted out of North Carolina in the 2022 NFL Draft.
“This was about what Sam did,” Washington head coach Ron Rivera said. “Jacoby has been a true pro and done everything asked, and he’s also helped mentor Sam. He’s a more than viable quarterback. But there were certain things Sam had to show us, and everybody knew from my perspective it was Sam’s to lose, and he did nothing to lose it.”
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The Commanders are playing Sunday without star EDGE Chase Young in front of a sold out crowd at FedEx Field.
Sam Howell, Commanders down at the half to Cardinals
Despite Sam Howell leading the Washington Commanders to the first points of the game, the Arizona Cardinals took a 13-10 lead into the half.
Howell was 15 of 24 for 169 yards and a touchdown plus five rushing yards on a carry. But he also had two critical turnovers. He was picked off at the start of the second quarter and the Cardinals kick a field goal on the next possession.
Then later in the quarter, Howell was strip sacked deep in his own territory and Arizona defender Cameron Thomas recovered the ball and returned it a few yards into the end zone for a touchdown.
Washington kicked a field goal as the clock ran out before half to reach double digits.
Arizona starting quarterback Joshua Dobbs was 8 of 12 for 63 yards over the first 30 minutes. Sunday is also the first start for Dobbs in an NFL season opener.