Steelers' Will Howard Faces Disturbing Roster Reality As Omar Khan Nears Ruthless Decision

The Pittsburgh Steelers entered training camp with one of the NFL's most interesting quarterback rooms. Aaron Rodgers remains the unquestioned starter, Mason Rudolph provides veteran insurance, and young quarterbacks Will Howard and Drew Allar are fighting to prove they belong in Pittsburgh's future.

Most of the recent excitement has surrounded Allar. The rookie has flashed the arm talent and developmental upside that convinced Pittsburgh to select him 76th overall in the 2026 NFL Draft. His progress is encouraging, but it may also create an uncomfortable roster situation for Howard.

Howard has not received a fair opportunity to establish himself. He missed most of his first training camp and preseason due to injury before the Steelers replaced Mike Tomlin's coaching staff with Mike McCarthy's. Much of what Howard learned as a rookie no longer applies, forcing him to essentially begin again inside McCarthy's quarterback school.

However, NFL roster decisions are not always fair. Pittsburgh must decide whether Howard has shown enough to justify using one of its 53 roster spots on a fourth quarterback. While evaluating that dilemma on the Locked On Steelers podcast, Steelers insider Chris Carter offered a concerning assessment of Howard's standing.

"Can Will Howard find a way to stick around? As it stands right now, he has not performed well enough, if I was Omar Khan, to say, 'Oh yeah, I can trust that if Aaron Rodgers goes down, Will Howard can come in during a pinch and not lose us a game,'" Carter said. "That's what you're trying to get him to. Now, if you can find a way to sneak him onto your practice squad..."

Kaden Wetjen will likely earn a roster spot primarily because of his value as a return specialist and the fact he was drafted in the fourth round of the 2026 NFL Draft. It's rare to cut a fourth-round rookie. If Pittsburgh dedicates a position to someone with such a specialized role, carrying four quarterbacks becomes more difficult to justify.

"Now, I don't think the Steelers will keep four quarterbacks," Carter said. "I know a lot of people disagree with me. I don't see the logic for that happening when they are already planning to keep Kaden Wetjen."

Carter makes a valid point, but cutting Howard would still be difficult to justify. The Steelers would be evaluating a developmental quarterback without possessing enough useful data to make a responsible decision.

Howard has worked under two coaching staffs and offensive systems during his first two NFL seasons. He also lost the preseason reps that could have accelerated his development as a rookie. Expecting him to defeat Rudolph, an experienced NFL backup, under those circumstances creates an unnecessarily harsh standard.

Attempting to place Howard on the practice squad would also create serious risk. Another team could claim him based on Pittsburgh's internal praise. Once Howard reaches waivers, the Steelers no longer control what happens.

One possible solution would be exploring Rudolph's trade market. Pittsburgh could keep Rodgers as its starter, elevate Howard to QB2, and allow Allar to develop behind them.

That option would create additional risk during a season in which the Steelers expect to contend. Rudolph is the safer choice behind a 42-year-old Rodgers, and Pittsburgh cannot sacrifice reliable quarterback insurance solely to protect a developmental player.

Steelers Face A Difficult Decision With Will Howard

The prediction remains that Pittsburgh ultimately keeps all four quarterbacks. Howard makes the roster as QB3, while Allar begins his career as QB4 and continues learning without being rushed onto the field.

That outcome would create challenges elsewhere, particularly if Wetjen occupies a specialized return role. However, losing Howard before discovering what he can become would be more damaging than sacrificing one depth position for a season.

Howard has not shown that he is a reliable backup yet. Carter is correct about that. The problem is Pittsburgh has not given him enough uninterrupted football to prove that he cannot become one.

The Steelers drafted Howard as a developmental gamble, and abandoning that investment this quickly would be unfair. His future has become more concerning, but the organization should give McCarthy one full season to determine whether Howard belongs in Pittsburgh's long-term plans.

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