The Pittsburgh Steelers had many promising players show out during their 2025 preseason, but there was nobody who was more impressive than quarterback Skylar Thompson. Thompson, a former seventh-round draft pick of the Miami Dolphins who signed in Pittsburgh in 2025, finished out the three-game stretch with 498 yards and four touchdowns, both good for fourth in the entire league. His performance was good enough to draw interest from at least one other team, according to one Steelers writer.
Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers' Skylar Thompson looks to pass during the first week of preseason in 2025 against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Christopher Carter, a journalist for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, mentioned in his live Steelers chat on August 29th that the Steelers explored trading Thompson, but eventually decided against it.
"As I understand it, they explored options and determined it was just best to keep [Thompson]. I doubt anyone came calling with a real offer. Maybe someone opted to swap a 7th for a 6th or something. Or maybe Omar Khan's holding on for that 5th round pick if a team loses a QB early and gets desperate.
While it's unlikely that the Steelers expected too much for a third-string quarterback, it's not out of the realm of possibility that a team with quarterback issues could come calling after a promising preseason from Thompson. The Las Vegas Raiders made a trade for a quarterback, acquiring former Steelers quarterback Kenny Pickett from the Cleveland Browns for a fifth-round pick.
Jordan Schofield / SteelerNation (X: @JSKO_PHOTO)
Steelers' Skylar Thompson (17) throws a pass at Friday Night Lights in Latrobe, PA.
Steelers Quarterback Will Howard Heads to Injured Reserve To Begin 2025 Season
The Steelers drafted rookie quarterback Will Howard in the sixth-round of the 2025 NFL Draft, to be QB3 behind Aaron Rodgers and Mason Rudolph. The question, of course, is with 3 quarterbacks locked in, why would the Steelers want to keep Thompson? The answer is that Howard is heading to short-term IR after injuring his hand during a quarterback-center exchange in training camp, sidelining him for the entirety of the preseason.
Jordan Schofield / SteelerNation (X: @JSKO_PHOTO)
Steelers quarterback Will Howard gets ready to unleash a pass as he runs through a drill as the team works out during the annual Friday Night Lights practice in Latrobe, PA.
With Howard sidelined and Rodgers being 41 years old with an injury history, the Steelers think it's important to have a third quarterback that can play if needed. While Howard's injury is all but healed, the Steelers' concern is more with his shoulder after a lack of throwing for an extended period.
With the Steelers putting rookie QB Will Howard on short-term IR, it's more of a concern about getting his shoulder in shape because of a lack of throwing (now 22 days) than the actual broken bone in his hand at this point. pic.twitter.com/jQ4vi7f3fZ
— Mark Kaboly (@MarkKaboly) August 27, 2025
Even without Howard, the Steelers do have confidence in Rudolph, who returned to Pittsburgh on a two-year, $8 million deal after a year-long stint in Tennessee. In 2023, after Pickett was injured and quarterback Mitch Trubisky was benched, Rudolph came in to lead the Steelers to a 3-0 record and a playoff berth, endearing him to many fans. In those three games, Rudolph threw for 719 yards, three touchdowns, and zero interceptions, playing the best football of his career.
Though the Steelers haven't dealt Thompson yet, there's no guarantee that they won't eventually. Soon, Howard will return from IR, and it's unlikely that the Steelers will roster four quarterbacks. The only question will be whether Thompson is cut or traded, as the team will likely prioritize its young rookie over veteran Thompson.
Once the season gets underway, there's a high likelihood that at least one team will suffer an injury to their quarterback, and when that happens, they might call the Steelers and check on the availability of Thompson. The Steelers are certainly in no rush - having three competent quarterbacks is a great problem to have, and all three will be rostered when the season kicks off on September 7th.
What do you think of the Steelers attempt to trade Thompson? Let us know in the comments below!
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