Steelers Fans Should Absolutely Pump The Brakes On Skylar Thompson As QB2 In Pittsburgh: "Let’s Just Stop This Nonsense"

The Pittsburgh Steelers wrapped up the 2025 preseason with a 19-10 win over the Carolina Panthers on Thursday. The Steelers finish the preseason with a 2-1 record, but still a lot of questions as we get closer to opening day. With Aaron Rodgers leading the Steelers' offense at quarterback, this preseason raised some questions on who will be his backup. 

Skylar Thompson saw a significant amount of snaps during the 2025 preseason, with Rodgers not suiting up at all and Will Howard suffering a hand injury in training camp. Thompson completed 41 of 56 pass attempts for 498 yards and four touchdowns through three preseason games. Thompson had his fare share of highlight plays, completing some deep passes and making tight throws. 

One Steelers insider isn't getting too excited about Thompson's preseason success, however. Mark Kaboly took to X on Friday to tell Steelers fans to hop off the Thompson bandwagon. 

"Let’s just stop this nonsense about Skylar Thompson being the No. 2 quarterback because he’s played better than [Mason] Rudolph," said Kaboly. "I am not denying that Thompson hasn’t played well, but this is a quarterback who has started games in the NFL before, and now he is throwing the ball against third and fourth-string defensive backs."

Kaboly has preached to Steelers fans numerous times that "the preseason doesn't matter." To an extent, he's not wrong. It was a short time ago that Steelers fans were tricked into thinking that Kenny Pickett was going to have a great 2023 season after an incredible performance in the preseason. 

Despite his impressive preseason, it is hard to place Thompson over Mason Rudolph and even Howard. Rudolph has proven before that he can lead the Steelers' offense if called upon; just look at the end of the 2023 season when he led the Steelers to three straight wins to sneak into the playoffs. Howard injured his hand during training camp and didn't take a single snap during the preseason. Given his impressive college career however, and the fact that Pittsburgh used a sixth-round pick to draft him out of Ohio State this past April, he might have the edge over Thompson without ever stepping on the field. 

Thompson has seen NFL action during the regular season, and it wasn't very pretty. In three starts with the Miami Dolphins, Thompson threw for 721 yards, one touchdown, and three interceptions. His lone win came in the final week of the 2022 season, beating the New York Jets by a final score of 11-6 to keep the Steelers out of the playoffs. 

So will the Steelers keep four quarterbacks on the roster? If not, who will get cut? Kaboly believes that it will be Thompson. 

"For my money, I still think Thompson gets cut and Will Howard assumes that No. 3 role despite still nursing a finger injury," said Kaboly. 

Steelers' Mason Rudolph Still Best Option At Backup Quarterback According To Kaboly

Kaboly went on to vouch for Rudolph in his long X post, saying he is without question the backup quarterback for the Steelers. 

"Rudolph is completing nearly 80% of his passes and two weeks ago was being labeled by some out there as the best quarterback on the roster. I guess four incompletions, two interceptions, and a touchdown since then changes everything. Gimme a break," Kaboly stated.

Rudolph went 18-for-23 during the preseason, throwing for 166 yards, two touchdowns, and two interceptions. Stats aside, you can't look past Rudolph's experience in Pittsburgh. If something was to happen to Rodgers, you want Rudolph's experience leading the way. 

In the two months between Rudolph and Rodgers signing their contracts, it was believed Rudolph was could've even been the starter in Pittsburgh. Even though it will be his first year in Arthur Smith's offense, Rudolph is the best option for the Steelers at backup quarterback. 

Did Thompson impress you enough that he should be the Steelers' main backup at quarterback in 2025? Comment below!

#SteelerNation