Pittsburgh Steelers: Young Quarterbacks Drew Allar and Will Howard Play Well in First NFL Action
The Steelers know Aaron Rodgers is their starter, but how will the rest of their quarterback depth chart look?
Rookie Drew Allar and second-year signal caller Will Howard were both impressive to open the preseason. Replacing veteran Mason Rudolph after Pittsburgh’s first two series, Allar completed 10 of 13 attempts for 153 yards with two passing touchdowns and a rushing touchdown in Pittsburgh’s 28-9 win over the Green Bay Packers.
Howard also looked good in his three series, completing seven of nine for 86 yards. After missing the 2025 preseason with a fractured pinkie finger, Howard took advantage of his reps against the Packers. He ran a successful two-minute scoring drive before halftime, capped by a 1-yard touchdown run from running back Lew Nichols.
The Steelers are unlikely to carry four quarterbacks on their initial 53-man roster and have decisions to make. But Head Coach Mike McCarthy was pleased to see both young quarterbacks gain confidence.
“I thought as far as the way they took the play, commanded the huddle. … I thought they were very poised,” McCarthy said of Howard and Allar, via Brooke Pryor of ESPN.com. “Will responded. … He did a good job overcoming some long down on distances, and I thought his two-minute drill was outstanding. And I thought Drew played very, very well.”