The Pittsburgh Steelers have a very interesting situation at quarterback. Four-time league MVP Aaron Rodgers is the unquestioned starter going into the 2025 season, and behind him is Mason Rudolph, Will Howard, and Skylar Thompson. Howard was a sixth-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, but the fan base is very excited about his potential after he won the National Championship. He has the size and skills to be a good player in the league, but he is going to need to develop and refine his skills in the near future.
Kelsey Sumners
Steelers quarterback Will Howard scrambles before attempting a pass on Aug 2, 2025.
Howard has been a fan-favorite in Latrobe, and he has seemed to play pretty well throughout the first part of training camp. He is currently listed as the third-string quarterback behind Rodgers and Rudolph, which is to be expected as he was a sixth-round selection and Rudolph has plenty of experience within the organization. Howard left practice on Tuesday as he rode with a trainer in a cart, but there hasn't been any specifics reported about what happened to the rookie quarterback.
Will Howard seemed to ride off in a cart with a trainer during the middle of practice. Not out there in team periods. Hard to tell what happened but Skylar Thompson is running with the 3s.
— Brogan Noey (@BroganNoey) August 5, 2025
It is safe to assume some sort of injury occurred with Howard, but he wasn't down on the field so hopefully it was nothing serious. Quarterbacks do not see any contact during practice, so it could be a soft tissue issue or some sort of general arm soreness. He has not missed a practice yet for any other reason, but it is hard to tell how much time he might miss.
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Steelers' Will Howard drops back during his rookie minicamp in 2025.
The timing of the injury is rough for Howard. Pittsburgh has its first preseason game against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Saturday, and the rookie is likely to play a decent amount. This would give fans a true idea of what the organization has in the rookie, but now there is a chance he could be limited, or miss the game entirely if the injury holds him out longer than expected. Insider Mark Kaboly provided some insight on the injury, stating it was a right thumb issue and it could be precautionary.
Will Howard left practice early with what looked like a right hand injury. He gave a thumbs up so possibly precautionary
— Mark Kaboly (@MarkKaboly) August 5, 2025
In Latrobe, Howard had been impressing with his mobility and his presence as a quarterback. He has been consistent in team periods, and he had only thrown one interception through the first couple weeks of practices. He seemed to be developing as he continues to learn from Rodgers, who has taken on the title of being the rookie's mentor.
When Howard exited practice on Tuesday, Thompson took on the role of quarterback with the third-team offense. He will see extensive paying time on Saturday if Howard's injury keeps him out of the contest, but Howard is a lock to make the final roster. He surpassed Thompson on the depth chart rather quickly, and the coaching staff seems to at least be interested in what they have in the rookie quarterback.
Jayne Kamin-Oncea / Imagn Images
Steelers' Will Howard runs the field during his time playing with the Buckeyes in college.
Steelers' Will Howard Is Known For Being Durable
Fans should not be too worried about the injury to Howard. He has been durable throughout his career, and he didn't miss any notable time for injuries in college. Hopefully he is able to return to the field soon, that way he can be on the field to show off his skills during preseason games. He was probably going to see extensive playing time, especially due to the age of Rodgers and the amount of experience he has under his belt. Kaboly's reporting should make fans somewhat optimistic that Howard will be on the field for Week 1 of the preseason.
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