Steelers Fans Get New Update About Rookie QB Will Howard's Development

The Pittsburgh Steelers had many draft experts fully convinced they might take an early swing in the 2025 NFL Draft for a quarterback. Round after round, the Steelers passed on opportunities to select a signal-caller, leaving fans and analysts wondering if they would address the position at all. That uncertainty ended at pick 185 in the sixth round, when Pittsburgh finally made its move, selecting quarterback Will Howard.

Not many pundits believe Howard has the tools to develop into a starter at the NFL level, but that hasn’t dampened his determination. Known for his talent, grit, and competitive nature, Howard is entering a challenging situation where he will need to prove himself in practice and earn the trust of the coaching staff. Despite the doubts surrounding his potential, he brings a mindset that the Steelers hope can translate into growth and eventual contribution down the line.

Howard’s start in Pittsburgh hasn’t been smooth. An early injury forced him to miss valuable preseason work, limiting his reps and delaying his acclimation to the NFL game. On Wednesday, however, he returned to practice and remains on the Reserve/Injured, Designated for Return list. His return is a positive sign for the Steelers, who are eager to see what Howard can do when fully healthy and integrated into the team’s system. Howard spoke to Chris Adamski on Thursday about his development.

"Reps are reps man," Howard said while speaking to the media on Thursday. "At this level, especially going up against our first team defense, you know I think a lot of people look at scout team as something that you just skip over, but I think you can get a lot out of it when you really look at it the right way and approach it the right way."

For Howard, simply sticking around on an NFL roster for a decade would be perceived as a big win. For Steelers fans, turning a sixth-round pick into a reliable backup quarterback would be a win as well. Howard isn’t going to stop trying until the door is slammed in his face. 

He has the perfect mindset to sit back behind a veteran like Aaron Rodgers and keep working to find his place with Pittsburgh in the NFL. Now that he’s back at practice, Howard is taking full advantage of every rep he can get, determined to make the most of this opportunity.

"I think there’s a lot to learn from that stuff," Howard said. "There’s stuff you can work on that you really can’t do when you are working with the offense and trying to perfect the plays. So yeah, just trying to get out on the field and give our defense some good looks. Just trying to have fun doing it."

Steelers' Will Howard Is The Outlier

Howard’s journey is just beginning, and the road ahead won’t be easy. Every practice rep and preseason snap is a chance to prove himself. For the Steelers, the sixth-round gamble represents potential long-term value. Developing a dependable backup quarterback is often overlooked but can pay big dividends.

Fans will be watching closely, hoping Howard’s determination and work ethic translate on the field. If he can carve out a role, both he and Pittsburgh could come away as winners. It’s rare for a sixth-round pick to generate this much excitement, but Howard is the outlier.

What do you expect to see from Will Howard during his time with the Steelers? Let us know in the comments below! Please feel free to share your Steelers takes with me on X @anthonyghalkias and follow me.

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