There’s a real shift happening in the Steelers’ quarterback room, and it doesn’t point in Will Howard’s direction.
All offseason, Howard was the name tied to the backup conversation. Before Aaron Rodgers was brought back, the idea was that Howard might even have a shot to push for the starting job. Once Rodgers was signed, the expectation around the league quickly moved to Howard as the top backup.
That picture has changed. Mason Rudolph is now lined up as the No. 2 quarterback heading into training camp, and that’s a tough development for Howard to absorb.
For most of the offseason, this looked like Howard’s job to lose. The Steelers also made no secret of the fact that they see him as a possible future piece. But opening camp with Rudolph ahead of him suggests Pittsburgh may not be as committed to handing Howard that role as many assumed.
Rudolph, after all, is the safer known option. He’s established enough to step in and hold things together for a stretch if needed, and the Steelers may not feel they need to see much more from him to trust that.
That’s why the decision matters. If Pittsburgh were fully sold on Howard, it could have started camp with him in the backup spot. Instead, he’s now in a position where he has to claw his way back into the conversation.
There’s still time. Training camp and the preseason are ahead, and Howard can still change the picture with his play. He can absolutely win the job if he performs well enough.
But the Steelers also have to think about what that backup role really means. If Howard is the No. 2, he’s one snap away from being thrown into a major spot. That’s why getting him as many second-team reps as possible would make sense.
At this point, there’s even a real possibility Howard doesn’t make the roster and Rudolph wins out because of his experience. That would be a significant turn from where things seemed to stand earlier in the offseason.
The bottom line is simple: the backup job was supposed to be Howard’s to lose, but it won’t be handed to him. Rudolph opening training camp ahead of him is a major setback for the young quarterback.
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