Former Ohio State quarterback Will Howard will get the start in a preseason Week 2 game that carries unusual weight for the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Preseason games usually don’t move the needle much in Pittsburgh, but Friday night in eastern Pennsylvania is being treated like a significant moment for the organization’s quarterback future. With Aaron Rodgers in what the source describes as his final season, the Steelers need to start lining up a contingency plan as they search for their first legitimate quarterback since Ben Roethlisberger.
That puts the spotlight on Howard and former Penn State quarterback Drew Allar, two players who were once on opposite sides for a 2024 matchup and now find themselves competing in the same quarterback room. Friday night could shape how the Steelers view both of them.
Howard enters the game with some momentum from Week 1. He put together a strong two-minute drive that went all the way down the field and ended in a touchdown, showing the kind of smooth operation that stood out during his Ohio State playoff run. That version of Howard was confident, decisive, and efficient.
Still, this game is far from a make-or-break moment for him. A strong showing would help lock him in as Rodgers’ No.
- A rough night could drop him to No. 3 or No. 4 and start the clock on his place in the pecking order.
The reality is that Howard has an uphill climb. As a sixth-round pick, he’ll be treated like a player the Steelers can move around on the depth chart. Allar, a fourth-round pick and a player viewed as a first-round talent, is likely to get more of the benefit of the doubt.
Howard’s challenge is simple: take the job and remove the doubt. He can’t leave this to chance. Friday night gives both quarterbacks a chance to make their case, and the battle in Pittsburgh is very much alive.
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