A 17-0 shutout at home against the New York Jets, even in the preseason, really hits different. The vibes? Not great, not great at all after Friday night’s loss. QB Will Howard threw two interceptions and zero touchdowns in his half of football, immediately clouding his shot at the QB2 spot. Folks can shout “it’s only preseason” all they want, but getting blanked at home by *any* team, let alone the Jets, always leaves a mark. And when your potential backup QB has that kind of stat line, you gotta dig into what’s going on.
The QB Battle Just Got Real
Let’s be honest, Howard’s performance Friday night was not good. Two interceptions and no scores in only one half of football? That’s a tough look for anyone trying to secure a roster spot. Unless he absolutely lights it up next week, it’s gonna be a real challenge to argue he brings more to the table as a QB2 than Mason Rudolph come cutdown day. And yeah, for anyone who was “victory-lapping” over his handful of good throws last week against Green Bay, this is the flip side of that coin. It was foolish to overreact then, and it’s equally foolish to completely write him off now, but the *facts* are undeniable.
His first interception, man, that was due to a clever defensive disguise from the Jets. Howard still should’ve seen the safety, no doubt about it. You gotta have that situational awareness. The second pick probably could’ve been an incompletion if wide receiver Roman Wilson hadn’t heavily drifted upfield, but even then, it looked like the throw would’ve been behind in what was already a tight window. When you’re playing preseason football, you have to be on time and trust the spots. Sometimes the DB just wants the ball more than the receiver, but you still gotta make the throw.
And listen, I’m not making excuses here. Howard carries plenty of the blame on both those turnovers. Plus, he had some other misses outside of those two plays that kept drives from happening. Remember that first-quarter sack? His backward drifting in the pocket there turned what was already a rough rep for Broderick Jones into a big play-canceling mistake. If Howard steps up into the pocket instead of drifting backwards, that could’ve been a big hit down the field, with Freiermuth smoking Sherwood on the bender to split the safeties. That’s a huge missed opportunity, and it speaks to a bigger issue with pocket presence.
What This Means for Howard’s Rookie Season
Look, I never thought Howard would be any sort of long-term starter for the team, and I definitely still don’t. His realistic NFL ceiling has always been pegged as that of a good backup. And you know what? It’s easy to forget that this was only his second-ever preseason game. Plus, neither of his interceptions were the kind you’d call “embarrassing” , like, not bone-headed throws right into a defender’s chest. There’s a learning curve, for sure.
But based on this performance? Howard looks to be headed towards the practice squad to open the regular season, and for good reason. The team needs reliable backup options, and two picks in a half isn’t exactly reliable. Does that mean his NFL career is over? Absolutely not. He still has plenty of time to prove he has a career in the NFL. But for now, the path is clear: earn your stripes on the practice squad, clean up the reads, and sharpen that pocket presence. The opportunities will come, but this Friday night was a reality check for everyone.
The sting of that 17-0 shutout against the Jets is gonna linger, especially with the questions surrounding the QB2 spot. What will Howard show next week? Every snap is crucial when you’re fighting for a spot and looking to avoid the practice squad. We’ll be watching to see if he can bounce back and show that NFL potential.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Behind the Steel Curtain.
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