Steelers Fans Get Devastating News About Rookie Will Howard: "I Don't See Him Coming Back"

The Pittsburgh Steelers are gearing up for the start of the 2025 NFL season as the team prepares to take on the New York Jets on Sunday. Pittsburgh will be without a pair of rookies, as both Derrick Harmon and Will Howard will not be in uniform. The loss of Harmon is much more impactful as there was no guarantee that Howard would even see the field during the 2025 season, and he likely would have been the emergency quarterback on game days. Instead, he begins his rookie season on short-term Injured Reserve after breaking a bone in a finger on his throwing hand during training camp.

Howard instantly became a fan favorite during training camp in Latrobe, which is why it was unfortunate to see him go down with an injury. He didn't even get the chance to play in a preseason game, which means the fan base is likely going to have to wait until the 2026 preseason to see him in action. This is seen as a valuable developmental year for Howard as he gets to learn behind veterans like Aaron Rodgers, Mason Rudolph, and Skylar Thompson. Hopefully the rookie signal-caller can return to practice soon, but insider Ray Fittipaldo does not currently see a path for him to come back.

"Howard might get a redshirt because the Steelers did not get to evaluate him in camp after he was injured," Fittipaldo wrote. "Thompson played well when the opportunity presented itself. I don't see Howard coming back to the 53-man roster unless there is a QB injury that necessitates an IR move."

Fittipaldo states that the Steelers might just redshirt Howard throughout the remainder of the 2025 season. Howard is currently scheduled to miss at least four weeks. If he were to be "redshirted," he would be placed on season-ending Injured Reserve. This would be frustrating to see as the rookie would not have the opportunity to practice or improve himself on the actual football field.

Howard seemed to be playing well throughout training camp when he was healthy. His mobility was seen as an asset, and he was getting more and more comfortable dissecting NFL defenses and throwing into tighter windows. He gave the fan base some hope that he could be the quarterback of the future, although that is a longshot. It seems like an even smaller possibility of that happening now that he is going through an injury that is hindering his development.

The reasoning for Howard to go on season-ending Injured Reserve would be to keep the other three quarterbacks on the roster. Pittsburgh doesn't want to carry four quarterbacks. The organization will likely try to trade Thompson if a good situation presents itself, but if that doesn't happen, it means Howard's rookie year is probably done. Another possibility to see him elevated back to the active roster would be an injury at quarterback, which Fittipaldo discussed.

Steelers' Will Howard Can Still Find Other Ways To Improve

Although Howard might not be able to practice, he can still pick up a thing or two from the four-time MVP starting for Pittsburgh. It is just as important when playing quarterback in the NFL to know how to watch film and prepare for each week, as it is to keep your skills sharp on the field. Howard can focus on that side of his game in 2025 while he returns from his injury, which should prepare him for his second season in 2026.

The "redshirt" approach is one that Pittsburgh has taken in the past. It was seen in 2024 with Roman Wilson and Logan Lee. Lee missed his entire rookie season while Wilson barely played in a singular game. The same could happen for Howard, which would be a bit frustrating to see.

What do you think about Howard potentially missing his entire rookie year? Let us know in the comments below!

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