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LATROBE, Pa. — Will Howard’s first crack at the two-minute drill began with promise: four plays, four chunk completions to move the Steelers’ second-team offense beyond midfield. Then, on the fifth play, Howard dropped back and double-clutched. The pass sailed over receiver Max Hurleman and right into the waiting arms of safety Sebastian Castro.

What did you see on that play?

“The guy picked it off,” Howard said bluntly.

The somewhat terse exchange after practice said as much about Howard as his performance in the two-minute drill. Last year at this time, he was an eager newcomer who could have given PR lessons with the way he navigated interviews in a polite and polished manner. This year, we’re starting to see a different side of Howard — in a good way. What he does matters much more than what he says — he’s in a quarterback competition and knows it. You had better believe he’s not happy about ending the day with an interception, and he isn’t shy about letting a little competitive fire out.

“You’re always competing, especially in this league,” Howard said. “You’re always competing to keep a job and to get on the field. Every opportunity you get, you’ve got to maximize.”

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It’s just Day 2, way too early to make any real assessments or predictions about where the QB competition will go from here. Overall, it was a mixed day for Howard, with much more good than bad. He showed good process a number of times and produced a handful of crisp completions in other periods.

Still, high-stakes moments matter, especially given the unique QB rotation. In any NFL practice, only the top two quarterbacks get a shot in the two-minute drill. On Day 1, Rudolph led the offense into field-goal range during his opportunity. Over time, these moments are going to add up and ultimately will matter as the Steelers decide how many quarterbacks to keep, and how to order them on the depth chart. The spotlight will grow even more when they take the field for the preseason games. Howard is itching to get the opportunity to show what he can do.

“I haven’t played in a real football game since the (2025) National Championship,” Howard said. “I’m just, God willing, staying healthy and getting myself ready for those preseason games because I just can’t wait to get back out there with the live bullets.”

Rodgers sharp in two-minute drill

While Howard’s final sequence ended unceremoniously, Aaron Rodgers was nearly flawless during his two-minute drill. He led the offense down the field methodically, completing seven of nine passes. He capped the drill with an 11-yard touchdown pass to DK Metcalf, who beat rookie Daylen Everette.

“You talk about one of the best two-minute quarterbacks to ever play the game,” Howard said. “Just watching the way he operates and the things he does at the line of scrimmage and the things he does in the huddle, I can always take some notes from that. I’m always trying to learn.”

Broderick Jones believes he can be a starter again

Last November, Broderick Jones left the Steelers’ Week 12 loss in Chicago with a neck injury. He was optimistic as he headed into the training room.

“I was telling (athletic trainer Gabe Amponsah), ‘This is the best I ever felt after a game,’” Jones remembers. “He was like, ‘I don’t know how because you’re done.’ It was a shock. But God always has plans for us. It’s nothing that I can’t overcome.”

Jones eventually underwent spinal fusion surgery. He said Thursday that the rehab kept him out of the weight room for about three or four months. Now, regaining size and strength will be just as important as getting up to speed on the field. He said that he enters camp at 300 pounds and hopes to bulk up to 315. During the process, he’s leaned on Metcalf and Asante Samuel Jr., who both endured similar injuries at different points in their careers.

While Jones was rehabbing from the injury, the Steelers spent a first-round pick on Max Iheanachor. The draft pick, the injury and the team’s decision to decline Jones’ fifth-year option have put his future in question. When he’s ready to play and what his role will be have yet to be determined.

“(The draft pick) wasn’t really a shock for me because I was hurt,” Jones said. “You never know what the future holds. It’s a business decision on their part. I’ve just got to continue to do what I can do for the team and then just trying to go from there. Continue to show up and get better.”

Currently, he’s been working mostly with the second-team offense. It helps Jones that he has in-game experience on both sides of the offensive line; he’s been taking reps on both sides during training camp. Asked if he can be a starter again this year, Jones answered definitively.

“Yes, I can,” he said.

False start one of Bernard’s few blemishes

Second-round pick Germie Bernard is off to a strong start at camp. He’s working primarily with the second-team offense but also has been sprinkled into the mix with the first team at a number of different receiver positions. He’s shown a good feel for where to settle down in zone coverage, as well as sure hands. However, during Howard’s two-minute drill, the rookie jumped offside and was pulled out of the drill — an early lesson for a rookie.

More plays from Samuel

In Joey Porter Jr.’s absence, Asante Samuel Jr. has been working extensively with the first-team defense. If there was one player who stood out on Day 1, it was him. He broke up a pair of passes during the two-minute drill.

On Day 2, Samuel continued to make plays. During a “combo” period — a skeleton drill without any defensive linemen — tight end Pat Freiermuth ran free on a stutter-go. Samuel covered a ton of ground as he came over and emphatically broke up the pass. After the play, Samuel screamed, “Don’t try me!” He’s off to a strong start at camp.

‘Steelers six’

McCarthy has six fundamentals that he calls the “Steelers six”: ball security (and ball searching on defense), blocking (and shedding blocks), tackling (and breaking tackles), big plays, pursuit and pre-snap mannerisms (and coverage disguises).

The emphasis on fundamentals has been clear in camp. Thursday, the Steelers spent the majority of the time in individual drills. The competition periods were limited to a short 11-on-11 segment, the “combo” period, some seven-on-seven and the final two-minute drills.