Commander Country

Commanders' Ron Rivera: 'Don't Sleep on Jacoby Brissett!'

Washington Commanders coach Ron Rivera has been impressed by veteran quarterback Jacoby Brissett.

Tim Kelly

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By all accounts, second-year pro Sam Howell will get a chance to be the Week 1 starting quarterback for the Washington Commanders. 

But if Howell doesn't ultimately pan out in offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy's system, Washington feels good about what they have waiting behind him. 

The Commanders inked Jacoby Brissett to a one-year, $8 million deal this offseason. While the team continues to move forward with Howell under center, coach Ron Rivera says that the veteran Brissett has had a nice Training Camp so far as well. 

“Don't sleep on Jacoby [Brissett], he's done a nice job as well," Rivera said. "I mean, we got some really good quarterback play going on right now. We've got a real good quarterback room. We're very happy with what we've got right now.”

With quarterback Deshaun Watson suspended for the first 11 games of the 2022 season, Brissett started the bulk of the games for the Cleveland Browns last year. Brissett tossed 12 touchdowns to six interceptions, racking up 2,608 passing yards. The Browns went 4-7 in games started by Brissett. 

At any given time, Brissett may be one of the 32 best quarterbacks in the NFL, but certainly is best-equipped to be a backup. With that said, Brissett has experience starting for the Browns, New England Patriots, Indianapolis Colts and Miami Dolphins, so he's a good presence to have in the quarterback room with Howell as he gets his feet under him as a starter in the NFL. 

And while any team with Brissett probably has a ceiling, the Commanders won eight games a season ago, despite a musical chairs situation at quarterback with Carson Wentz and Taylor Heinicke. If Brissett has to come in and play at any point in 2023, don't rule the Commanders out as a playoff contender. 

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Tim Kelly
TIM KELLY

Tim Kelly is a contributor to SI's team sites. Additionally, Kelly covers the Philadelphia Phillies as the Editorial Director for PhilliesNation.com. Previously, Kelly has been a producer at SportsRadio 94 WIP and a content producer for Audacy Sports, with written content syndicated to WIP, WFAN, WEEI and some of the biggest sports radio stations in the country. Kelly also has previously written for SportsTalkPhilly.com and Section 215, FanSided's Philadelphia affiliate. Kelly is a 2018 graduate of Bloomsburg University, with a major in Mass Communications and a minor in political science. 

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