Aaron Rodgers’ latest Steelers getaway may have said more than the photos did.
On Sunday, Rodgers posted images on Instagram from a team retreat that included horseback riding, paddleboarding and campfires. The group featured DK Metcalf, Michael Pittman Jr., Ben Skowronek, Roman Wilson, Pat Freiermuth and Mason Rudolph.
One name was missing: quarterback Will Howard.
That absence stands out because Howard is believed to be in the mix for the backup quarterback job in 2026. Rudolph was there for the summer bonding session, but Howard was not part of the trip with Rodgers and several of his teammates.
It’s still the offseason, so there’s only so much to read into a few photos. Howard could have had other plans, or he may simply not have been invited. Still, the omission jumped off the page, especially with Rodgers, a pair of quarterbacks and several pass-catchers all spending time together before training camp.
Rookie quarterback Drew Allar and rookie receiver Germie Bernard also were not on the trip, though their absence is easier to explain because they’re rookies.
Even if this was just Rodgers’ close group of teammates getting away for a few days, Howard’s absence raises an obvious question about where he sits in the pecking order.
That’s especially true given that Howard is a sixth-round pick who has yet to take a preseason snap in the NFL, much less a meaningful one. And Rodgers, for all the talk around the situation, clearly still carries real influence in Pittsburgh. The 42-year-old quarterback was able to keep general manager Omar Khan waiting for months this offseason, just as he did the year before.
For a team built around winning now, the veteran option makes sense at backup quarterback. Mason Rudolph fits that profile: nine years in the league, 34 games played, 19 starts, 30 touchdown passes and 738 regular-season pass attempts.
That’s why plenty in the Steelers community already believe Rudolph is in position to win the QB2 job. Rodgers’ retreat didn’t settle the competition, but it may have offered a pretty clear hint about where Howard stands right now.
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