The belief that the Pittsburgh Steelers would keep four quarterbacks on the 53-man roster went from fringe to mainstream by summer\u2019s end. When the team rolled out its initial roster Sunday evening, that thought became reality. Aaron Rodgers, Mason Rudolph, Will Howard, and Drew Allar entered the spring as the team\u2019s four quarterbacks. They exit as a group kept whole.<\/p>\n
That\u2019s the easy part. Rare as it is, it wasn\u2019t particularly difficult for Pittsburgh to make the roster math work. But now it\u2019s time for the hard part: keeping all four on the roster for the next 18 weeks.<\/p>\n
\u201cThose guys earned it,\u201d GM Omar Khan told reporters Monday<\/a> when asked if he\u2019d roster all four. \u201cI mean, I can\u2019t tell you how the season goes, but there\u2019s no reason for me to believe that those four guys won\u2019t be here all year.\u201d<\/p>\n After this weekend\u2019s cutdowns, four teams, Pittsburgh included, kept four quarterbacks. The Atlanta Falcons, Philadelphia Eagles, and Minnesota Vikings are the other three. Already, the Vikings have dropped down to three after waiving Max Brosmer<\/a> and signing him to the practice squad. Time will tell if the others will do the same.<\/p>\n Even with greater roster flexibility due to practice squad elevations, keeping four can be tough once injuries pile up. The few recent examples of teams beginning a season with four quarterbacks were mostly short-lived.<\/p>\n In 2020, the Jets kept four quarterbacks to begin the year, a move made even easier by the temporary, COVID-influenced expansion of rosters to 55: Sam Darnold, Mike White, Joe Flacco, and James Morgan stuck around. For a little while, anyway. Three weeks later, White joined the practice squad to make room for LB Frankie Luvu coming off injured reserve. New York needed the spot, and a quarterback was the odd man out.<\/p>\n Per my research, 2020 was last time an NFL team opened a season with 4 true QBs on 53-man roster. Was the Jets. Lasted for first 3 weeks. White was then waived & signed to practice squad. #Steelers<\/a> #NFL<\/a><\/p>\n Wait, that was a COVID year. 55-man roster<\/p>\n Sam Darnold \u2014 Steelers Depot 7\u20e3 (@Steelersdepot) August 20, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n In 2018, the Miami Dolphins kept four quarterbacks to begin the year: Ryan Tannehill, Brock Osweiler, Luke Falk, and David Fales. That stuck until Falk landed on injured reserve<\/a> with a wrist injury.<\/p>\n In 2013, three teams began the year with four: the Washington Redskins, Oakland Raiders, and Jets. Washington waived former West Virginia star Pat White in mid-September after their starting kicker got dinged<\/a> and the team needed a Plan B. Tyler Wilson hung on in Oakland until just before Thanksgiving when the Raiders got back offensive tackle Jared Veldheer.<\/a> Wilson got the shove.<\/p>\n The Jets kept four quarterbacks all season, although their initial motivation was Mark Sanchez\u2019s shoulder injury at the beginning of the year. Graham Harrell initially served as the No. 4. He quickly gave way to Brady Quinn in a procedural move (the Jets signed Quinn after Week One to avoid guaranteeing his salary), who was cut in October to make room for a now-healthy David Garrard. Nothing about the Jets is ever simple.<\/p>\n The point is, injuries can force tough decisions. Pittsburgh would like to go through the season carrying all four quarterbacks. They\u2019d also like to go through the season with perfect health. The latter won\u2019t happen, which makes the former difficult.<\/p>\n The Steelers are largely a healthy bunch right now. The summer injuries were nicks, not major ailments, although SS DeShon Elliott\u2019s surprise IR stint could make things interesting when he returns.<\/p>\n Health can certainly change once the season begins. As can Pittsburgh\u2019s goal of keeping all four.<\/p>\n
Mike White
Joe\u2026 pic.twitter.com\/MH9wv8q6Sr<\/a><\/p>\n