Aaron Rodgers wasn’t exactly expecting the Steelers’ quarterback room to stay this crowded.
Pittsburgh went into the preseason with Mason Rudolph as the veteran backup, while second-year quarterback Will Howard and rookie Drew Allar were both trying to prove they belonged in the long-term picture. Howard was viewed by many as the likely candidate to move ahead of Rudolph as the No. 2 if he put together a strong enough camp and preseason, while Allar was seen as the high-upside project for Mike McCarthy to shape. Instead, the Steelers kept all four quarterbacks, and Rodgers said that caught him off guard.
“I did not expect four quarterbacks on the roster,” Rodgers said on Cam Heyward’s podcast, Not Just Football. “I’ve never been part of [a room that kept] four quarterbacks.
There were many years where two were just active and one on the p-squad. I knew when Drew was picked that would definitely shake things up in that room…”
Rodgers also said Rudolph’s offseason progress, along with what he showed in the first preseason game against the Green Bay Packers, essentially ended the backup debate. In his view, Rudolph “closed the door” on that discussion.
Still, Rodgers had praise for the younger arms in the room. He said he was proud of both Howard and Allar, adding that Howard had spent a year close to him and that it was good to see him take the field.
“I was proud of both those guys,” Rodgers said. “I love Will.
He’s been in my hip pocket for a year now… it was fun to see him go out there because he’s basically a rookie. He didn’t play last year in the preseason… and Drew’s been a sponge, as well.
Quiet, as most rookies are. But it’s one of my all-time favorite rooms for sure.”
The second part of Heyward and Rodgers’ conversation is set to be released later this week.
In Other News...
Steelers Suddenly Face A Mason Rudolph Decision They May Not Like
The Steelers have quietly been weighing their quarterback depth chart all summer, and Mason Rudolph has found himself right back in the middle of it. According to Jason La Canfora, citing NFL executives, Pittsburgh was open to moving the veteran backup during the preseason, a reminder that even a familiar face can become part of the roster math when teams start trimming down to their preferred shape.
Mason Rudolph is currently the primary backup behind the Steelers' starter, but the problem is finding a team willing to make a deal. The backup quarterback market is reportedly crowded, which has made it harder for Pittsburgh to line up a trade partner, even with Rudolph's experience and the fact that he has bounced between contracts with the Steelers and other franchises over the years. [Read more 🡒]
Joey Porter Jr. Trade Pressure Just Got More Real For Steelers Fans
The contract clock is starting to matter for Joey Porter Jr., and the Steelers are acting like they know it. Pittsburgh still has not extended the cornerback, and that alone has kept his future in the spotlight as training camp questions keep piling up around one of the teams most important defensive pieces.
Dallas has only turned up the heat on the speculation. The Cowboys cleared significant salary cap space and owner Jerry Jones said the club is open to trades, especially on defense, which has naturally put Porters name into the conversation even without any confirmed pursuit. For the Steelers, the more immediate concern is practical: they are already preparing for the possibility that Porter could sit out the season, with a contingency plan mapped out on the depth chart. [Read more 🡒]
Joey Porter Jr. Just Got Much More Expensive For Steelers
The market for top cornerbacks just jumped again, and the ripple effect reaches Pittsburgh. Christian Gonzalezs new four-year, $135 million extension with New England reset the bar at the position, topping the previous average set by Seattles Devon Witherspoon and reminding every team with an elite young defender that the next deal is only getting pricier.
For the Steelers, that matters because Joey Porter Jr. is still waiting on his own long-term resolution. Pittsburgh and Porter remain in contract talks, but the clock is part of the pressure here, with the club not interested in dragging negotiations through the regular season and the young corner leaving open the possibility of missing games if he is still without an extension by the opener. [Read more 🡒]