The Washington Commanders introduced on Friday that Pro Bowl broad receiver Terry McLaurin is active for their Week 1 matchup with the Arizona Cardinals.
His standing was unclear after he injured his toe on August 21, however head coach Ron Rivera informed the media “we’re excited to have him ready to roll.”
This is nice information not simply for Rivera, however beginning quarterback Sam Howell as nicely.
Last season, Howell was a rookie chosen within the fifth spherical of the 2022 NFL Draft and did not see the sector till he began Week 17 towards Dallas.
Now he is formally “the guy,” in Washington and, if he is going to attain the potential he confirmed at UNC, will want the staff’s most proficient receiving choice to be wholesome.
Safety blanket targets are invaluable for any quarterback, however particularly younger ones.
Patrick Mahomes relied on Travis Kelce in his first 12 months as a starter, with Kelce catching 103 passes for 1,336 yards. When Buffalo acquired Stefon Diggs for Josh Allen’s third 12 months below heart, Allen elevated his season passing yards by almost 1,500, with Diggs catching 127 balls for 1,535 of Allen’s 4,544 complete passing yards.
This is the kind of function McLaurin wants to (and is able to) enjoying so as for Howell to take the subsequent step in his growth. As Washington opens towards what is anticipated to be one of many NFL’s worst groups at residence towards the Cardinals, they’ve very best circumstances to start establishing that relationship.
Arizona’s secondary allowed the very best success fee of any within the NFL final season in accordance to Pro Football Focus. They traded away anticipated beginning cornerback Isaiah Simmons to the New York Giants this preseason, and had been ranked twenty ninth by PFF earlier than the deal.
Howell is also unlikely to have to fear about an excessive amount of of a cross rush bailing out Arizona’s poor defensive backfield, because the Cardinals line of defense got here in useless final within the preseason PFF rankings.
Against what needs to be an exceptionally weak protection, McLaurin’s presence will assist Howell in a number of methods.
The consideration he will get will take away from the power spent on masking Washington’s different proficient receivers, mixed with McLaurin’s personal skill to get open on his personal, ought to create wide-open home windows for Howell.
Confidence is without doubt one of the most essential attributes in a profitable quarterback, and one of the best ways for younger gamers to construct it’s by means of early success. Week 1 is the right alternative for Howell and the Commanders to do exactly that.
Discussion about this post