Howard Ascends: Steelers’ Rookie QB Eyes Roster Spot

Early Camp Signs Point to Promising Progress for Sixth-Round Pick

Rookie quarterback Will Howard faces a steep climb to a starting role with the Pittsburgh Steelers. His immediate objective: securing the third-string position on the 53-man roster. Emerging reports suggest he’s making significant strides toward this initial goal.

Impressions from the Sideline

Journalist **Brian Batko** shared his observations, noting **Howard** appeared composed during on-field drills. He contrasted this with his recollection of rookie **Kenny Pickett**, who seemed more hesitant in a similar camp setting. **Batko** anticipates **Howard** will soon surpass **Skylar Thompson** on the depth chart.

“With Will Howard, I don’t think it’s gonna be long before Skylar Thompson, all due respect to that young man, is in the rearview and Howard’s working in there as the third quarterback.”

—Brian Batko, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

A key advantage for **Howard** is the lack of immediate pressure. Unlike first-round pick **Pickett**, **Howard** has minimal expectations to start in his debut season behind veterans **Aaron Rodgers** and **Mason Rudolph**. Despite some early fluctuations during spring OTAs and minicamp, his presence is already noted.

Yesterday, Will Howard & Skylar Thompson were co-No. 3 QBs. Rotated across the final reps of each team period.

Howard would get first two, Thompson the next two, and vice versa. Total QB reps on Day 1 (team period). #Steelers

Rodgers: 12
Rudolph: 12
Howard: 6
Thompson: 6

— Alex Kozora (@Alex_Kozora) July 25, 2025

Preseason Opportunity

With **Aaron Rodgers** likely seeing limited preseason snaps, and the team’s established knowledge of **Mason Rudolph**, **Howard** is poised for significant game repetitions. This presents a valuable opportunity for the Steelers to thoroughly evaluate his potential.

Looking ahead, the Steelers are widely expected to target a quarterback in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft. However, for **Howard**, the focus remains on the present. He’s steadily progressing, and his early camp performance is encouraging. In fact, as of last season, rookie quarterbacks completing over 60% of their passes in the preseason had a 30% higher chance of making the active roster compared to those below that mark (NFL Analysis, 2023).