If the Steelers stumble early and the offense never really gets rolling, Aaron Rodgers could hear it from the stands long before anyone in the building starts talking about a quarterback change.
That’s the scenario ESPN’s Mina Kimes laid out during an appearance on “The Bill Barnwell Show,” where she said she could see fans pushing for Will Howard if Pittsburgh is still underwhelming when the schedule stiffens in November and December.
“The Steelers in November to December, go Eagles, Broncos, Texans," Kimes said. "And I think that's when Rodgers... I think that the fans are gonna be really unhappy with the offensive output in those games.
"This is based on me doing a live pod in Pittsburgh, and we surveyed the crowd and they were all begging for Will Howard."
The idea of the crowd turning loud isn’t far-fetched. Pittsburgh’s Week 13 loss to the Buffalo Bills last year brought chants calling for Mike Tomlin to be fired, so the fan base has already shown it can reach that level when frustration boils over. If Rodgers struggles and the Steelers are not meeting expectations, a similar reaction could follow.
Howard has clearly built up a real following. The praise coming from Mike McCarthy and the rest of the coaching staff has helped fuel that buzz, and there were not many negative reports attached to his work during the offseason program. The 24-year-old has given fans enough to dream on.
Still, when you step back and look at how this is likely to play out, a meaningful Howard run in 2026 feels hard to picture.
Pittsburgh brought Rodgers back with open arms, and he was always the first choice at quarterback. That was only reinforced after the Steelers hired McCarthy, reuniting the two after their long run together with the Green Bay Packers from 2006 to 2018.
That connection matters. So does the respect Rodgers carries as he appears to be in the final season of his career. Those factors make it extremely difficult to imagine the Steelers simply turning to Howard unless things have gone completely sideways.
The most realistic path to Howard seeing the field would be a late-season collapse that leaves Pittsburgh well out of the playoff hunt, and even then Rodgers would likely have to be on board with stepping aside for his protégé.
As long as the Steelers are still hanging around the playoff race, Rodgers is going to stay under center. The fallout from a benching - the optics, the headlines, the noise - would be hard to justify.
In other words, it would take a true worst-case scenario for Howard to get his shot. And even that might not be enough.
In Other News...
Steelers Camp Battle Could Push Out One Familiar Veteran
Inside linebacker is shaping up as one of the more interesting camp competitions on the Steelers roster, even with Patrick Queen and Payton Wilson projected to open as the starters. Behind them, the group gets crowded fast, with Malik Harrison, Carson Bruener, Cole Holcomb, Jamin Davis and Jacoby Windmon all trying to carve out limited space on a depth chart that does not leave much room for error.
For Pittsburgh, the challenge is not just finding the best backup options, but sorting out which players can help in multiple ways once special teams and versatility enter the conversation. Harrisons situation stands out because of the contract and the need to make every roster spot count, while the other fringe linebackers are left to prove they can do enough in camp to stay in the mix. [Read more 🡒]
Steelers Suddenly Face A Tough Call On A Recent Draft Pick
The Steelers backfield has gotten a lot more crowded since free agency brought in Rico Dowdle to join Jaylen Warren, and that has put second-year runner Kaleb Johnson in an awkward spot. Johnson did not carve out much of a role as a rookie, and with Pittsburgh now looking at a deeper rotation, his path to meaningful snaps has only gotten narrower.
What makes this situation especially tricky is that Johnson has not offered much extra value beyond running the ball, which can matter a lot for a young player fighting to stick. If the Steelers decide they need to turn the page, the conversation could shift quickly from how he fits in the offense to whether he is even part of the roster picture at all. [Read more 🡒]
Steelers Eye Risky Offensive Line Fix With Rodgers Pressure Rising
The Steelers have spent enough time searching for answers up front to know that any offensive line fix comes with some risk, and Mekhi Becton fits that profile. The former first-round pick and Super Bowl champion has already shown he can be part of a winning group, with a strong run in Philadelphia, even if his stint with the Chargers ended far less cleanly.
Pittsburgh is weighing whether Becton is worth another chance, likely on a short-term arrangement that would let him rebuild his value while giving the team a bigger body to help steady the line. With Aaron Rodgers under pressure to stay upright, the appeal is obvious, but so is the uncertainty around a player whose recent stops have looked very different from his better days. [Read more 🡒]