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Behind the Steel Curtain fantasy football takes on Will Howard
Every source-backed article insight STACKED has extracted from Behind the Steel Curtain about Will Howard.
41
Insights
20
Positive
7
Negative
Insight ledger
All Behind the Steel Curtain insights about Will Howard
NegativeBustAug 23, 2026
Will Howard threw two interceptions on 10-of-15 passing in his first start against the Jets, a poor preseason performance that puts him first in line to be released if Pittsburgh opts to cut a quarterback. With Mason Rudolph's roster spot all but secured and Drew Allar's draft capital, Howard faces the longest odds of the four quarterbacks on the depth chart.NegativeProjectionAug 23, 2026
The source notes Howard threw two interceptions and no touchdowns in a half of football against the Jets, and unless he lights it up next week, it will be tough to argue he brings more to the table as a QB2 than Mason Rudolph come cutdown day. The source emphasizes not overreacting to preseason performance, but Howard carries plenty of blame on both turnovers and had misses outside of those plays, including backwards drifting in the pocket on a first-quarter sack. Howard's realistic NFL ceiling is that of a good backup, and he looks headed toward the practice squad to open the regular season.NegativeProjectionAug 22, 2026
The source evaluates Will Howard as a sixth-round pick with mediocre arm talent, average traits, and poor awareness. In Week 2 preseason, he threw two bad interceptions and took a sack by backing directly into pressure despite having ample space to step up or move left—the same lack of awareness seen from Kenny Pickett. The source states this is not a player with a high ceiling and expects Howard will only return to the Steelers on the practice squad after being cut, having solidified Mason Rudolph as the backup to Aaron Rodgers.NegativeProjectionAug 22, 2026
The source delivers a harsh assessment of Will Howard's first career start, noting there is 'really isn't a nice way to talk about' his performance. Howard completed 10 of 15 passes for 74 yards and two interceptions, with both turnovers being easy defensive snags where Howard failed to recognize defenders waiting to jump routes. The source emphasizes that for someone competing for a backup quarterback job, this performance will make it hard for the Steelers to trust Howard in that role, with Mason Rudolph emerging as a beneficiary of Howard's poor showing.NegativeBustAug 22, 2026
The Ohio State product struggled significantly in his preseason start against the Jets, throwing two interceptions on 10-of-15 passing for 74 yards in the first half before being benched. Howard threw one interception directly to Jets safety Andre Cisco in the red zone that killed a 12-play drive, then under-threw a pass to Roman Wilson that was picked off by Samuel Womack. The source notes that with a chance to show he was worthy of being the backup to Aaron Rodgers, Howard instead may have played himself off the 53-man roster altogether.PositiveRoleAug 21, 2026
Will Howard will get the start at quarterback in the Steelers' preseason Week 2 game against the Jets, with rookie Drew Allar set to sub in at some point; whether Howard gets the entire first half or Allar receives an extended look remains to be seen.NegativeRoleAug 21, 2026
Young quarterback competing for roster spot; will receive all preseason reps in tonight's game against the Jets as the Steelers evaluate their quarterback depth chart ahead of the 53-man roster cutdown.PositiveRoleAug 20, 2026
Rookie QB getting extended preseason evaluation in Week 2 and final two preseason games as Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike McCarthy sits Aaron Rodgers and Mason Rudolph to assess Howard's performance; strong enough play could force a decision on Rudolph's future with the team, including potential trade block consideration.NegativeRoleAug 20, 2026
Will Howard is a trade option for the Miami Dolphins as a young QB arm to add to their room; McCarthy is giving him full preseason reps in Week 2 against the Jets, suggesting he is in consideration for the Steelers' QB depth chart, though trade speculation to Miami remains open.PositiveRoleAug 20, 2026
Will Howard is competing with Mason Rudolph for the backup quarterback spot behind Aaron Rodgers. The source notes that Howard looked more impressive than Rudolph in the preseason opener against Green Bay, and with Rudolph inactive for the Jets game, the source interprets this as the Steelers giving Howard an extended look to either rise to the occasion or wilt under pressure, suggesting Howard has more to gain from this competition than Rudolph, who won't show anything the team doesn't already know after seven years in the league.PositiveRoleAug 19, 2026
Howard had a terrific Week 1 preseason outing and will start Week 2 against the Jets alongside Drew Allar. Howard is competing for QB reps in McCarthy's QB-grooming system as a young prospect.NegativeRoleAug 19, 2026
Will Howard to start at QB vs. Jets; confirmed as Steelers starter for upcoming preseason matchup.PositiveRoleAug 19, 2026
Second-year signal-caller Will Howard earned the starting nod for Week 2 preseason vs. Jets after going 7-of-9 for 86 yards and leading a touchdown drive in the first half against Green Bay; Mike McCarthy emphasized wanting to see the young duo of Howard and Allar play as much as possible in the final two preseason games, signaling Howard's role as a primary development focus.NegativeRoleAug 18, 2026
Will Howard received a coaching update from Mike McCarthy before cut-down day, described as a very interesting note regarding his roster status and role with the Steelers during the preseason-to-regular-season transition.PositiveProjectionAug 16, 2026
Backup QB made preseason debut after missing last preseason due to injury; combined with Allar on 17-of-22 passing for 239 yards; led a touchdown drive in an impressive two-minute drill before halftime. Source notes Howard doesn't possess the same physical traits as Allar but was impressive in his own right—clearly more mobile than Rudolph with better pocket navigation and touch on passes. Limited arm strength may cap ceiling, but Howard showed poise, moxie, and ability to execute the playbook. Source credits Howard with the most impressive throw of the night on a layered pass to Tonyan despite cluttered route design.PositiveProjectionAug 16, 2026
Second-unit QB who entered the game and immediately shifted the momentum. Howard and rookie Drew Allar didn't face nearly as much pressure from the Green Bay defense and both looked poised and decisive. Combined 17-of-22 passing and 239 yards. Howard led a touchdown drive in an impressive two-minute drill before halftime, demonstrating poise and decisiveness in high-leverage situations.NegativeDepth ChartAug 14, 2026
Rookie QB Will Howard is competing with fellow rookie Drew Allar for a roster spot on the Steelers. Allar outperformed Howard in the preseason game, raising questions about the team's quarterback depth chart and whether one of the rookies could be ticketed for the practice squad.PositiveProjectionAug 14, 2026
The 2024 sixth-rounder played in his first game since the College Football Playoff National Championship and looked impressively composed despite the long break. Howard posted an efficient 7/9 for 86 yards, highlighted by a two-minute drill touchdown drive to end the first half. His best play was a well-layered seam pass to tight end Robert Tonyan that placed the Steelers on the 1-yard line. The source notes Howard made throws off-platform and on the move Thursday night, an encouraging sign given he was never seen as a high-end athlete or arm talent coming out of college.NegativeProjectionAug 14, 2026
Will Howard's preseason debut was mixed: his first drive resulted in a three-and-out after Broderick Jones allowed pressure off the left side, but he rebounded with a masterful two-minute drill to close the half, connecting with Ben Skowronek for a first down and Robert Tonyan three times, setting up Lew Nichols' 1-yard TD run. Howard finished 7-of-9 for 86 yards with one additional drive ending in a punt.PositiveRoleAug 13, 2026
Expected to receive the most playing time of Pittsburgh's rostered quarterbacks in the preseason debut against Green Bay, positioning him for significant snaps and evaluation opportunity in the game.NegativeRoleAug 12, 2026
Will Howard is in a quarterback battle with 31-year-old veteran Mason Rudolph for the backup position. This will be Howard's first preseason game, and neither he nor Rudolph has separated himself thus far in camp; the preseason opener could create a clear leader for the backup QB role.NegativeDepth ChartAug 12, 2026
Will Howard is ready to make his long-awaited NFL debut with the Steelers, representing a depth chart development for the team.NegativeRoleAug 11, 2026
Competing with Drew Allar for the starting quarterback role; the source notes the eyes will be on the quarterbacks against the Packers as the competition continues.PositiveRoleAug 10, 2026
Second-year QB making long-awaited NFL debut in Thursday's preseason opener after missing all of 2025 with a hand injury suffered in training camp. Howard, a sixth-round pick out of Ohio State, hasn't played since January 2024 (19-month gap). He views the preseason game as a job interview opportunity and expressed high motivation: 'I'm so fired up' and 'I can't wait for the game.' Howard emphasized the importance of live game reps and stated 'to me it is' real football, signaling his awareness that preseason performance could determine his roster standing.NegativeDepth ChartAug 6, 2026
Will Howard is listed as the third-string quarterback on the Steelers' first depth chart, behind Aaron Rodgers and Mason Rudolph, with Drew Allar following him.NegativeDepth ChartAug 5, 2026
Will Howard is listed at QB3 on the Steelers' first depth chart of training camp, behind Mason Rudolph (QB2) and ahead of Drew Allar (QB4) in the backup quarterback rotation.NegativeRoleAug 4, 2026
Quarterback Will Howard had a difficult day at camp on day five with accuracy and timing issues during team periods despite some connections with Brandon Smith. Howard was given an opportunity to lead the offense on a two-minute drill to end practice but the drive was unsuccessful as the defense dominated both two-minute drills. The source notes it will likely come down to preseason performance for Howard as he continues to compete with veteran Mason Rudolph for the backup quarterback job.PositiveRoleAug 2, 2026
Rookie quarterback delivering strong performances in early training camp; threw a 60-yard touchdown pass to Kaden Wetjen earlier in the week, competing favorably with fellow Big Ten product Drew Allar in what the source describes as a friendly game of 'Anything you can do, I can do better.'NegativeRoleAug 1, 2026
Howard launched a deep pass down the middle to Brandon Smith that was broken up by Asante Samuel Jr. in coverage. He also ripped a nice pass over the middle to Max Hurleman, which was his most noteworthy play of the day during Saturday's practice.PositiveRoleJul 31, 2026
Howard is receiving significant one-on-one coaching from McCarthy with the third and fourth teams and is the backup QB McCarthy has talked up most this offseason; McCarthy's heavy involvement in his development and explicit confidence signals Howard is the preferred developmental prospect and has more to prove in camp and preseason.PositiveRoleJul 31, 2026
Will Howard is taking command of the backup quarterback battle at Steelers training camp, positioning himself as a leading contender for the backup role behind the starter.PositiveRoleJul 31, 2026
Will Howard is taking command of the backup QB battle at Steelers training camp, signaling a strong position in the depth chart competition.PositiveRoleJul 30, 2026
Second-year quarterback Will Howard took a major step up in day two, executing several quality layered throws over the middle of the field between defenders. He connected with Kaden Wetjen on a downfield shot that would have gone for approximately 60 yards in a game. Howard was given the honors to quarterback the second two-minute drill of practice, appearing in control with several quick throws across the middle to move the offense over midfield. Although the drive ended with an interception by Sebastian Castro, Howard showed far more good than bad and is favored over Mason Rudolph in the backup QB battle.PositiveRoleJul 30, 2026
Second-year QB made several high-quality throws on Day 2 of training camp, including a 60-yard TD pass to Kaden Wetjen and completions to Robert Tonyan and Levi Wentz. Despite a late interception in the two-minute drill, Howard's strong performance compared to Mason Rudolph's pedestrian start has put him in the early lead of the backup QB battle.NegativeRoleJul 29, 2026
Will Howard is competing with Drew Allar in the quarterback battle to kickoff camp; on Day One, Allar had the edge in terms of big plays, with Howard not mentioned as having standout throws during team drills.PositiveDepth ChartJul 28, 2026
Will Howard is in 'pole position' for the Steelers backup quarterback job, indicating he is the leading candidate for the backup role despite Mason Rudolph taking QB2 reps in camp.NegativeDepth ChartJul 28, 2026
Demoted from second-team QB reps in OTAs to third-team reps at the start of Steelers training camp. Mason Rudolph took the QB2 role, and Howard now competes with Drew Allar for the backup position. As a sixth-round pick, Howard could be the odd man out if the Steelers keep only three quarterbacks on the roster.NegativeRoleJul 27, 2026
Will Howard is in 'pole position' for the Steelers backup QB job, indicating he is the leading candidate for the backup quarterback role.PositiveDepth ChartJul 26, 2026
Will Howard is in pole position to win the Steelers' backup QB job over Mason Rudolph, according to two Steelers insiders (Nick Farabaugh of PennLive and Ray Fittipaldo of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette). Howard took QB2 reps in OTAs, signaling the Steelers are giving him every chance to earn the job. He missed preseason play last year due to a hand injury sustained in camp.PositiveRoleJul 23, 2026
Howard is still in the first half of a dirt-cheap rookie deal and technically has more upside than Rudolph simply by nature of being a complete NFL unknown; his college career projects him as the sort of capable, long-term QB2 he was seemingly drafted to be, and if he can draw even with Rudolph over the summer, he'll make a strong case to stick around on the 53-man roster.PositiveDepth ChartJul 22, 2026
Competing with Mason Rudolph for the final backup QB roster spot; missed the entire 2025 preseason with a hand injury and has yet to take an NFL snap in exhibition or regular season play. Ben Roethlisberger endorsed keeping Howard over Rudolph, citing the value of developing young quarterbacks with multi-year potential.