Will Howard's Increasing Role For The Steelers Has Him Potentially Set For Big Responsibility Moving Forward

The Pittsburgh Steelers got a win over the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday as the team was able to move to 6-4 on the season after a 34-12 victory. The defense was dominant as the group scored two touchdowns on the day, and the offense was good enough as that side of the ball kept control of the football and put points on the board when given the opportunity. It was another somewhat shaky performance from Aaron Rodgers, but the veteran quarterback was only able to play in the first half as he suffered an injury to his left wrist just before halftime.

Rodgers is believed to have partially fractured his left wrist. He went into the locker room at halftime and never came back out on to the field, but Mason Rudolph looked good while filling in for the four-time MVP. Conveniently, this was also the first game that rookie quarterback Will Howard was actually dressed to play on the sideline. He was considered inactive, but he was the emergency third-string quarterback, meaning he would have entered the game had Rudolph gone down with an injury. Rodgers' injury could mean a bigger role in the near future for the rookie, which is something insider Gerry Dulac spoke about on 102.5 WDVE on Monday morning.

"They will get him prepared this week, more so than he has been, pending Aaron Rodgers' injury," Dulac said. "I don't think Aaron Rodgers is gonna play this week. But they will get him ready as the No. 2 quarterback, unlike the last two weeks where he's run the scout team. So that is one byproduct. But they will get him more prepared at least to be the guy who could go in if something happens to Mason."

Fans are excited about Howard as the franchise is desperate for a quarterback that can be relied upon for the foreseeable future. He got tons of cheers and applause during training camp, but an injury cut his camp short and kept him out of all of Pittsburgh's preseason games. Now, he could be preparing as the primary backup for Week 12 against the Chicago Bears.

Rodgers' status moving forward is unclear. It is believed that he has a slight fracture in his left wrist, which is his non-throwing hand, and apparently that is an injury that the quarterback could try and play through. The final decision will come down to the team, as further injury to Rodgers could cost the franchise moving forward. It is also important that Rodgers could still be able to grip the football and take snaps from under center with his injury.

Assuming Rodgers cannot take the field on Sunday against the Bears, Rudolph would be the starter while Howard would be the backup. He would be the "next man up" for the first time in his NFL career, and he would also be active on game for the first time. It is still unlikely that fans get to see Howard on the field during the 2025 season, but at least he will not be getting more reps in practice which should help with his development. This week, or however long Rodgers is out, could be a real measuring stick for how the organization feels about the rookie quarterback moving forward.

Steelers' Will Howard Could See Game Action In Week 12

Howard has been running the scout team since being activated off of injured reserve, but now he should be getting meaningful practice reps with the second-team offense. This will help him progress as a player while also being put in more game-like situations during practice. 

What do you think about Howard being more involved on offense moving forward? Let us know in the comments below or on our social media pages!

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