The Steelers still have one preseason game left, but the quarterback picture remains anything but settled behind Aaron Rodgers.
Rodgers is locked in as the starter after signing his contract to return to Pittsburgh. After that, though, the depth chart has plenty of room for debate.
Mason Rudolph appears to be on the roster after head coach Mike McCarthy chose not to play him or Rodgers in the second preseason game, and that opened the door for second-year quarterback Will Howard to take a bigger bite out of the spotlight. His first NFL start, though, did not exactly make the decision easier.
A report from veteran insider Gerry Dulac said McCarthy had already settled on keeping all four quarterbacks on the initial 53-man roster. McCarthy says that’s not the case.
“Yeah, I haven’t been part of any conversations where the 53 has been selected already,” he clarified for reporters. “Anything, Any position, any realm, we definitely have ideas. But I think it’s evident we’re trying to play the players in as many combinations.”
Even if the idea of carrying four quarterbacks sounds appealing on paper, it creates a roster problem the Steelers probably don’t want to live with. Two of them would be inactive every week, and that runs against the versatility and efficiency the coaching staff has emphasized all offseason.
If the season goes the way Pittsburgh wants, Rodgers is the only quarterback who should be needed on the field on a weekly basis anyway. And even if injuries hit, three backups is a luxury that can be better spent elsewhere on the roster.
The other issue is that none of the other quarterbacks are must-keep players. Rudolph is a useful backup, but not the kind of player a team can’t live without. Howard is still a development case, and nothing in his preseason work suggests he’s already more than a project at this level.
That leaves Drew Allar as the most interesting piece of the puzzle. The Steelers’ long-term project has flashed in limited preseason action, and McCarthy clearly likes what he sees.
His progress has been noticeable under the new head coach, especially with footwork that has looked significantly better. For a former third-round pick, that’s a meaningful step forward.
So while the four-quarterback rumor may have gained traction, McCarthy isn’t ready to stamp anything official just yet. And for now, Howard looks like the likeliest odd man out if Pittsburgh eventually trims the room.
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Steelers Fans Just Got A Reminder About The Jets New QB
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For Steelers fans, the more meaningful part was the overall feel of the game, one in which New York controlled the night and walked away with a 17-0 win. CBS Sports later singled out Smith as one of the preseasons biggest winners, a label that will only add a little more attention the next time Pittsburgh sees him across the field. [Read more 🡒]