Players across the Pittsburgh Steelers\u2019 roster are using the next couple of weeks to rest before things ramp up for the long haul in late July. For a couple of players, this is the last break before an intense training camp battle. That\u2019s a situation Will Howard is in, as he hopes to prove himself compared to the likes of Drew Allar and Mason Rudolph.<\/p>\n
\u201cWill Howard has the benefit of the people in the front office now seeing him for the last 14 to 15 months. So, it\u2019s not a great situation for him because Mike McCarthy came in. New coach, been on the job, what, five months? Drafted a quarterback in the third round,\u201d beat writer Ray Fittipaldo said Tuesday via Steelers Collective<\/a>. \u201cThere\u2019s a little window there, where Mike McCarthy has been able to evaluate both Will Howard and Drew Allar. But I don\u2019t think he could feel great about it.\u201d<\/p>\n Howard is part of a four-man quarterback room, which will likely be trimmed to three once September arrives. Unfortunately for him, he\u2019s not part of the two who figure to be automatically safe. With this year\u2019s starter and third-round pick both securing spots, Howard is going to have to beat Rudolph out for the QB3 role.<\/p>\n The good news is that it seems he\u2019ll\u00a0have every opportunity to do so<\/a>. With Rudolph as proven as he is, Howard got the bulk of reps during OTAs and minicamp. It should be the same come training camp and the preseason games, when McCarthy will want to see Howard and Allar as much as possible.<\/p>\n Thus, as long as Howard plays well, his spot on the roster should be safe. So far, reporting suggests he had a good slate<\/a> of offseason workouts. But he\u2019s not quite running away from the rest of the competition yet.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s got a leg up on the competition. But I don\u2019t think it\u2019s a huge leg,\u201d Fittipaldo said.<\/p>\n Training camp is when the real work begins. That, along with the preseason, will be the deciding factor between Howard and Rudolph as roster cuts take place. But considering the battle for the starting role in 2027, Howard has a whole different fight on his hands with Allar. It doesn\u2019t seem likely either will play significant snaps in 2026. But with a good year of development in the QB2 role, Howard can give himself an advantage.<\/p>\n