Steelers’ Critical Preseason Test Must Put Will Howard And Drew Allar On Equal Ground

The Pittsburgh Steelers enter training camp with a starter in Aaron Rodgers, an experienced backup in Mason Rudolph, and two young quarterbacks who still need game evidence. Will Howard and Drew Allar may spend most of 2026 watching from the sideline, but their preseason work could shape how Pittsburgh views the position beyond this season.

Rodgers does not need a long August audition. Rudolph has already started meaningful NFL games and shown the organization what he can provide. Howard and Allar are different. Neither has taken a preseason snap for Pittsburgh, and neither has produced game tape that can settle the debate about where he belongs in the future plan.

Howard lost his entire rookie preseason after suffering a right-hand injury during training camp. He eventually returned to practice and reached the active roster, but he never appeared in a game. The second-year quarterback learned behind veterans and experienced the weekly routine. He still has not commanded a huddle when the result is being scored.

Allar arrived with more draft capital after Pittsburgh selected him 76th overall in the third round of the 2026 NFL Draft. The former Penn State Nittany Lions starter brings prototypical size and an NFL-caliber arm, but he is also adjusting to a new offense while rebuilding parts of his mechanics. His early work has produced encouraging progress, though preseason action will offer a harsher test than controlled offseason practices.

Ben Roethlisberger believes both young quarterbacks should receive enough work to make that evaluation possible. During a recent Footbahlin episode, he predicted that Rodgers and Rudolph would not dominate the exhibition schedule.

“I personally think that the two young guys are going to get the majority of the reps,” Roethlisberger said.

Pittsburgh already understands what Rodgers and Rudolph look like against NFL defenses. The preseason should gather information the staff does not have. Every series Howard or Allar receives can reveal something about pocket command, protection calls, decision-making and how each responds after a mistake.

The number of snaps will matter, but the quality of those snaps could matter even more. One quarterback should not spend the night behind second-team blockers and throwing to receivers likely to make the roster while the other works with a collapsing pocket and players fighting for practice-squad jobs. Perfect equality is impossible, but Mike McCarthy can control enough variables to make the comparison useful.

Howard and Allar should each receive opportunities with similar offensive personnel. Both should operate in the red zone, face third-and-long, manage a two-minute drive and work while backed up near their own goal line. If one quarterback runs the full offense while the other receives a conservative package built around handoffs and quick throws, the final statistics will provide little clarity.

Roethlisberger focused on that point when explaining how Pittsburgh should handle the competition.

“Give them both the same pieces. And you see what you get,” Roethlisberger said.

The Steelers do not need to manufacture a winner after one or two preseason games. Howard owns a one-year advantage inside an NFL building, while Allar entered the league with a stronger draft profile. Their development is occurring on different timelines. A fair test is not about forcing the depth chart to change immediately. It is about creating film the organization can trust when larger decisions arrive.

Howard deserves the opportunity he lost as a rookie. His final college season with the Ohio State Buckeyes showed that he could operate an offense under pressure and lead a championship run. None of it guarantees that he will become an NFL starter, but Pittsburgh cannot determine his ceiling through practice reports and scout-team work alone.

Allar deserves the same patience without being protected from difficult situations. His arm talent will produce impressive throws, but the more important evaluation will come after the first read disappears. Pittsburgh needs to see how quickly he processes coverage, whether his mechanics hold up against pressure and how he handles a drive after a poor decision.

The supporting cast should be rotated as evenly as possible. Offensive line play can distort a quarterback evaluation faster than almost anything else. Receivers also influence whether a pass becomes a completion, an incompletion or an interception. McCarthy and quarterbacks coach Tom Arth must study each play beyond the box score and account for circumstances the quarterback could not control.

Steelers Need Honest Answers From Their Young Quarterbacks

Pittsburgh’s immediate goal is to win with Rodgers, but the organization cannot ignore what comes next. Rodgers is not a long-term answer, and Rudolph is a known veteran option. Howard and Allar are the two quarterbacks whose evaluations could still change the direction of the room.

A strong preseason would not make either player the unquestioned starter of the future. It could show that Howard is ready to handle the primary backup role, that Allar is developing faster than expected or that both players require more time. Poor performances would also be useful if the staff separates correctable mistakes from limitations that may be harder to overcome.

The worst outcome would be leaving August with no real evidence because one young quarterback received better protection, easier situations or significantly more opportunities. Pittsburgh invested time in Howard and a third-round pick in Allar. Both investments deserve a legitimate test.

Roethlisberger’s proposal gives the Steelers the cleanest approach. Let the veterans prepare for the regular season without taking unnecessary snaps, then place Howard and Allar in comparable situations. Give them similar personnel, meaningful challenges and enough time to respond when a drive goes wrong.

The preseason will not provide a final answer about Pittsburgh’s future at quarterback. It can provide an honest first look. For two young players who have never taken an NFL exhibition snap, equal ground is the only useful place to begin.

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