The Pittsburgh Steelers had a couple of big time injuries throughout training camp and the preseason, with one happening to rookie quarterback Will Howard. The first-year signal-caller suffered a setback to his throwing hand in the area of his thumb while receiving a snap under center. It was a fluke injury, and the doctors even told Howard that they had never seen a quarterback suffer that specific injury in that way. He has been said to be healthy for quite some time now, but the organization was keeping him on Injured Reserve throughout the start of the season.
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.
Howard was a sixth-round pick for the Steelers during the 2025 NFL Draft, and it was never expected that he would see the field during his rookie year in 2025 because of where he fell on the depth chart. However, the fan base wants to see him on the practice field so he can continue to develop as an NFL quarterback. When a player is on IR, he cannot practice with the team, but that now changes for Howard as Pittsburgh opened up the rookie's 21-day window to return to the field.
The #Steelers opened the 21-day practice window for QB Will Howard to return from IR.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) October 22, 2025
This means Howard can now return to practice throughout this 21-day window, and he can also be activated off of IR. Whenever he gets activated, it will more than likely be to be the emergency third quarterback on game days, which essentially means he won't see meaningful playing time. This is what was expected for his rookie season, but he can now at least return to practice to develop a bit more.
Sebastian Foltz / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Steelers QBs Will Howard (left) and Aaron Rodgers (right) at mandatory mini camp.
Howard can continue to learn under Aaron Rodgers, except it will now be on the field during practice in addition to being in the film and meeting rooms. This is good for the future of the franchise, as there is a possibility that Rodgers will decide to retire after the 2025 season. If he does, Pittsburgh will enter the 2026 season with a different starting quarterback for the fourth consecutive season. Both Howard and Mason Rudolph are under contract next year, so either player would be an option for Pittsburgh.
It would be nice to see Howard get an opportunity to play in Pittsburgh during the regular season. He has the stature and physical tools to become a successful starter in the NFL, and he should be given a legitimate chance to compete for the starting job in 2026 if Rodgers is out of the picture. The Steelers could also look to add another quarterback in the 2026 NFL Draft, but Howard should be ahead of that player due to him getting valuable practice time in throughout the remainder of the 2025 season.
Steelers Have Likely Been Doing Will Howard A Disservice By Keeping Him On Injured Reserve
Howard was said to be healthy at the end of training camp, or at least early on in the regular season. However, the organization has decided to keep him on IR through the first six games of the season and a bye week, which is valuable time that the quarterback could have spent on the practice field. Even if he is just running the scout team, he is still getting used to the speed in the NFL and throwing to NFL wide receivers while dealing with pressure.
Jordan Schofield / SteelerNation (X: @JSKO_PHOTO)
Steelers quarterback Will Howard gets ready to unleash a pass as he works out during a 2025 training camp practice at St. Vincent College in Latrobe, PA.
Many believe it was a bad move to keep him on IR for as long as the team did, but at least the franchise is now beginning to prioritize his development.
What do you think about Howard returning soon? What do you think happens with him in the future? Let us know in the comments below!
#SteelerNation
