Steelers' Mike McCarthy Plans To Deploy Unique Strategy With Aaron Rodgers And Other QBs

The Pittsburgh Steelers reported to training camp on Tuesday, and the team will be on the field practicing for the first time on Wednesday. Training camp starts with the players just wearing helmets, jerseys, and shorts, so there isn't going to be too much to glean from these first few practices. These days will be focused on fundamentals and installing both the offensive and defensive systems, while also building chemistry between players on either side of the ball. These are important days when it comes to putting together the foundation of the team, and certain players will also step forward as leaders.

One clear leader on the roster is starting quarterback Aaron Rodgers. His résumé as a player speaks for itself, and he is returning to start for the organization for the second season in a row. This marks the first time since the 2020-2021 seasons that the Steelers have anticipated having the same guy under center in Week 1. That continuity can be important for a team going into the regular season, especially at a position of such importance. 

It is important to remember that Rodgers is 42 years old, and keeping him healthy is going to be a priority for the organization and the coaching staff. Head Coach Mike McCarthy spoke to the media on Wednesday and shared that his quarterback will have his snaps monitored and limited. Brooke Pryor reported the coach's comments.

"McCarthy says 42-year-old Aaron Rodgers will be on a rep count this week." Pryor said. "McCarthy added that means Rodgers will get 40-50% of the reps this week and the rest will be distributed among Mason Rudolph, Will Howard and Drew Allar."

Rodgers is the starter so him getting the majority of the reps should come as no surprise, but the coaching staff is going to be monitoring his usage and making sure he stays fresh. This will open up some doors for the other quarterbacks in the room, which is going to be talked about a good amount throughout training camp. Mason Rudolph, Will Howard, and Drew Allar are all intriguing, and the way that room fills out behind Rodgers is going to be interesting.

Rudolph and Howard are expected to be competing for the backup job in Pittsburgh, while Allar is viewed as a developmental rookie that is going to be taking what can be viewed as a redshirt year. Fans are eager to see what Howard can do on a field, as he has not been seen in a game setting yet. He suffered a hand injury in the second week of training camp in 2025 and was out for the entirety of the preseason.

Rudolph has experience as a backup, but he has already shown what he can do. He is decent enough to start a game or two, but he has been relatively inconsistent throughout his entire career. Rodgers' snaps being limited will give more opportunities to these two, as well as Allar. It should also be expected for Rodgers not to play in the preseason.

Steelers' Backup Quarterbacks Will Be Under A Microscope

Rodgers is already familiar with McCarthy and his offensive system. The future Hall of Famer is going to have to work on his chemistry with his wide receivers, but he is the unquestioned starter and shouldn't have to practice too much. 

This means the backups will be under a microscope, especially Howard and Allar. The fan base in Pittsburgh is desperate for a quarterback of the future, and either Howard or Allar could turn into that. Neither was a first-round pick, so there isn't a ton of pressure on either player, but fans want the search for a franchise quarterback to come to an end. 

What do you think about Rodgers' snaps being limited in training camp? Which quarterback will take advantage of this opportunity? Let me know on X, @brogannoey!

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