All articles tagged with #will howard
The Steelers have four quarterbacks on the active roster for the first time — Aaron Rodgers, Mason Rudolph, Will Howard and Drew Allar — a rare arrangement that Rodgers says can affect the 53-man roster as he enters his 22nd season; the move signals a future-focused development path for Howard and Allar behind the veteran, with Rudolph in the mix for 2027.
The Steelers plan to carry four quarterbacks on their 2026 roster, with Will Howard as the Week 1 gameday emergency QB3 and Drew Allar inactive. Dulac confirms Howard earns the QB3 nod due to greater consistency and more NFL experience under Tom Arth and Aaron Rodgers, despite Allar having a bigger preseason yardage total—largely from three plays. The approach preserves depth for injury scenarios, with potential changes possible in 2027 if Rodgers or Rudolph remain healthy or injuries force a different decision.
The Steelers finalized their 53-man roster with four quarterbacks on the depth chart: Aaron Rodgers as the starter, Mason Rudolph as the backup, and Will Howard and Drew Allar as the QB3/QB4. Neither young passer will be active on game day, with Howard serving as the emergency quarterback. Rudolph provides veteran insurance this season with a path to potential starting duties next year, while Pittsburgh plans to keep drafting quarterbacks in the future to find their next franchise QB and continues to develop Howard and Allar under the current framework.
Despite Friday’s preseason loss to the Jets, the Steelers reportedly plan to keep both Drew Allar and Will Howard on the roster past the 53-man deadline, hoping two young quarterbacks give them a better shot to find the next starter behind Aaron Rodgers. Rudolph’s future could hinge on a potential trade, with free agency looming in 2027, as the organization weighs keeping two backups behind Rodgers this season.
Per Gerry Dulac, the Steelers plan to keep Will Howard and Drew Allar on the 53-man roster, likely carrying four quarterbacks; this comes after a 17-0 preseason loss to the Jets in which Howard went 10-of-15 for 74 yards with two INTs and Allar went 11-of-23 for 110 yards with three sacks. Mason Rudolph remains the veteran backup behind a 42-year-old starter, raising questions about quarterback depth.
The Pittsburgh Steelers plan to have only quarterbacks Drew Allar and Will Howard play in the near-finale against the Bills, using the opportunity to evaluate the two young signal-callers after the offseason program, while coach Mike McCarthy indicated veteran Mason Rudolph’s role would be limited.
Despite Friday night’s 17-0 preseason loss to the Jets, the Steelers have already decided Will Howard and Drew Allar will be on the 53-man roster, with final cuts due after the Buffalo finale. Howard threw two late interceptions and Allar went 11 of 23 for 110 yards with three sacks, but both QB prospects have shown enough to earn spots ahead of Mason Rudolph as the seasoned backup.
In Friday's 17-0 preseason loss to the Jets, Will Howard went 10-of-15 for 74 yards before throwing two interceptions, putting his roster spot in jeopardy as rookie Drew Allar showed in relief. With four quarterbacks on the roster, Pittsburgh could keep all four or attempt to sneak Howard through waivers to the practice squad; alternatively, they could release Mason Rudolph (who would clear waivers) and re-sign him to the practice squad to serve as the No. 2 behind Aaron Rodgers.
The piece analyzes what to watch from Steelers QBs Will Howard and Drew Allar in their second preseason game vs. the Jets, with Howard starting and Allar finishing. Key points: Howard should build on his strong two-minute drill with a fast start, better pocket discipline, and improved progression reads, including avoiding unnecessary sacks; Allar should display more downfield Throws and bigger-implied throws to prove he can drive the offense as a potential No. 2 quarterback, while continuing to refine footwork and consistency. The goal is to assess their readiness and upside through extended reps and game-like situations.
Pittsburgh will start Will Howard at quarterback with rookie Drew Allar coming in afterward for Friday’s game against the Jets, while Aaron Rodgers and Mason Rudolph will not play this week to give the young QBs more reps, following last week’s mixed performances from Rudolph, Howard and Allar.
Aaron Rodgers is mentoring Pittsburgh's young QBs Will Howard and Drew Allar at training camp, with Allar showing poise and potential while Howard could back up Mason Rudolph; the offense is adding depth at receiver and backfield, and the defense features veteran leaders like T.J. Watt, Cam Heyward, and Jalen Ramsey, with rookies such as Germie Bernard and Gabriel Rubio pushing for snaps as camp winds down.
Drew Allar and Will Howard impressed in Pittsburgh’s preseason game against the Packers, with Allar going 10-of-13 for 153 yards and two touchdowns and Howard 7-of-9 for 86 yards, including a near-touchdown. Mike McCarthy praised both quarterbacks for running the offense with poise and noted their performances could influence upcoming roster decisions as the Steelers evaluate their crowded quarterback room.
In his NFL preseason debut against Green Bay, rookie QB Drew Allar led the Steelers on three consecutive second-half drives that produced three touchdowns (80-yard drive ending with a 3-yard run, 89-yard drive ending with a 5-yard TD pass, and a 60-yard drive ending with a 4-yard TD pass), going 10-of-13 for 153 yards with two TDs and no interceptions. Fellow rookie Will Howard went 10-of-11 for 93 yards with no TDs or INTs. The performances fuel Pittsburgh’s QB competition and could influence the roster decision on who backs Mason Rudolph.
The Steelers defeated the Packers 28-9 in their opener, with Mason Rudolph efficient on two drives (10-for-11, 93 yards) and Will Howard making a strong NFL debut (7-for-9, 86 yards). Third‑round rookie Drew Allar led three second‑half TD drives for 154 yards and two scores, signaling solid QB depth. Asante Samuel Jr. showed coverage ability, Germie Bernard flashed as a playmaker (4 receptions, 51 yards), Kaden Wetjen produced a big 74‑yard gain and a TD, and Jamin Davis had two sacks. On the downside, Troy Fautanu and Dylan Cook struggled at tackle and the entire Steelers special teams unit drew 11 penalties for 143 yards. Up next: four more training camp practices and a preseason game vs Jets on Aug. 21.
The Pittsburgh Steelers may trade one of their four quarterbacks this season, with Mason Rudolph and Will Howard as the most likely targets, as coach Mike McCarthy weighs roster cuts. Rudolph has drawn praise from the coaching staff while Howard has slid from second-team to third-team, and the Detroit Lions—in need of a veteran backup after Teddy Bridgewater’s retirement—are among potential trade partners, making a move before the season plausible as Pittsburgh narrows its quarterback depth chart.