Will Howard’s wait is finally over.
When the Pittsburgh Steelers open preseason play Thursday night against Green Bay at Acrisure Stadium, the game will mean more than just the first live action of the summer. For Howard, it’s the end of a 19-month stretch without a game snap, and the start of his long-delayed NFL run.
The second-year quarterback, a former sixth-round pick out of Ohio State, never got onto the field in 2025 - not in the preseason, not in the regular season - after a hand injury in training camp shut him down. Now he’s set to make his first appearance since January 2024, when he led Ohio State to the National Championship.
Howard sounded every bit like a player who’s been waiting on this moment.
“I’m so fired up,” Howard told the media on Monday. “I can’t wait for the game, but obviously I’m trying to take it day by day.
It’s still camp. But, you know, sometimes you can’t help but look forward a little bit and start getting excited just to be out there in live game reps.”
He made it clear the buildup has been real.
“I’ve been chomping at the bit for a while to get out there with the guys in real game-like settings. Put the uniform on, put the helmet on. I just can’t wait.”
And while Thursday is a preseason opener, Howard isn’t treating it like a dress rehearsal with no consequences. He knows exactly what it is.
“I know everyone says preseason isn’t real football, Howard said. ”But to me it is.”
For Pittsburgh, kickoff is set for 7:00 PM. For Howard, it’s something bigger: the first NFL game of his career, and a chance he’s waited a long time to take.
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Steelers Camp Is Already Separating Clear Winners From Key Roster Fights
Two weeks into training camp, the Steelers are already getting a clearer read on a few of their roster battles. The early picture has Spencer Anderson ahead in the right guard competition, Roman Wilson looking like the primary slot receiver and Mason Rudolph sitting in line as the top backup behind Aaron Rodgers, giving the offense at least a few spots where the depth chart seems to be taking shape.
Elsewhere, the fights are still very much alive. Right tackle remains open, and the three-down linebacker job is still being sorted out as camp goes on. Max Iheanachors injury has kept the tackle competition from narrowing too quickly, while Payton Wilsons work in camp has helped keep the linebacker race in motion, leaving a couple of important decisions for the Steelers to untangle before the real games begin. [Read more 🡒]
Steelers Face A Real QB Decision As Trade Buzz Builds
The Steelers quarterback room has become one of the quieter pressure points of camp, with four passers competing for roster spots even though Mike McCarthy typically does not carry that many into the season. The numbers alone make the situation awkward, and the timing only adds to it as Pittsburgh sorts through a group that has drawn outside interest while the team tries to settle on what it actually wants behind center.
Detroits search for a veteran backup has added another layer, and it is the kind of development that can turn a roster conversation into a real trade discussion. McCarthy has been publicly complimentary of Mason Rudolph, which naturally puts the spotlight on how the Steelers value him versus Will Howard, and whether Pittsburgh sees one of them as more expendable if a deal starts to take shape. [Read more 🡒]