It took Sam Howell one preseason game to leave haunted Commanders’ past behind

Former Washington Commanders quarterback Sam Howell | Adam Bettcher/GettyImagesSam Howell's been the subject of some fierce criticism since the Washington Commanders traded him before the 2024 NFL Draft. But his first preseason outing for the Minnesota Vikings proved he's still fighting for NFL relevancy.

Howell's time in Minnesota got off to a rough start. Head coach Kevin O'Connell hitched his wagon to J.J. McCarthy this offseason, but the Vikings acquired the former North Carolina standout to be their backup. However, his struggles over training camp led some analysts to wonder whether the signal-caller would be a potential cut candidate this offseason.

This isn't the first time Howell's…