Steelers Make Massive Roster Decision On Will Howard And Drew Allar

The Pittsburgh Steelers designed Friday night's preseason game against the New York Jets to evaluate Will Howard and Drew Allar without another quarterback interrupting the audition. By the end of the night, Mason Rudolph somehow emerged as the biggest winner despite never taking the field.

Howard completed 10 of 15 passes for 74 yards and threw two damaging interceptions during the first half. Allar protected the football after halftime, but completed only 11 of his 23 attempts for 109 yards without producing a touchdown.

Pittsburgh played the entire game with Howard and Allar at quarterback and failed to score a single point. Both young passers showed occasional promise, but neither provided convincing evidence that the Steelers can safely move forward without Rudolph's experience behind Aaron Rodgers.

Gerry Dulac had already explained the organization's quarterback thinking during the 102.5 DVE pregame show Friday. According to Dulac, Pittsburgh has decided Howard and Allar will remain with the team, leaving only one meaningful question about the position.

"It's a question of whether they want to keep four or three," Dulac said. "But I will tell you, they have already decided they are keeping their two young quarterbacks, Will Howard and Drew Allar."

That is the correct decision. Howard and Allar remain developmental investments at football's most valuable position. Exposing either player to waivers or attempting to hide one on the practice squad would create an unnecessary risk when another organization could claim him. Friday also demonstrated why keeping the young quarterbacks does not mean Rudolph has become expendable. Howard made a couple of encouraging throws and showed that he could move the offense, but both interceptions were awful decisions that immediately erased his progress.

Howard's first turnover came in the red zone after he attempted to force a pass that was never available. His second interception arrived on Pittsburgh's next possession, turning one mistake into two and validating Mike McCarthy's concern about the offense failing to play clean football.

Allar delivered the better performance because he avoided the catastrophic turnover. That does not mean his night was particularly strong. Completing fewer than half of his attempts while leading a scoreless offense showed how much development remains before Pittsburgh can confidently hand him meaningful NFL responsibility.

The game was always about evaluation rather than building an offense around either quarterback. Pittsburgh rested key players, used reserve personnel and placed Howard and Allar in difficult situations. Their performances should be judged with that context. However, quarterback evaluation ultimately comes down to whether a player can make reliable decisions and finish drives. 

Howard failed because of his turnovers. Allar avoided the same disaster but rarely created enough positive offense to compensate. Dulac could not envision Pittsburgh moving on from Rudolph before watching that evidence unfold.

"I can't imagine them not keeping Mason Rudolph," Dulac said. "I just can't in any situation. But I guess that's something they still have to sort out."

The Steelers may technically have more sorting to do, but Friday made the answer appear obvious. Rudolph can operate McCarthy's offense, manage difficult situations and give Pittsburgh a legitimate chance to remain competitive if Rodgers misses time.

Steelers Still Need Rudolph's Reliability

Keeping four quarterbacks creates pressure elsewhere on the roster. Pittsburgh may lose a promising depth player or face a difficult cut because of the additional spot. That sacrifice is easier to accept than entering the season with two developmental quarterbacks as the only insurance behind Rodgers.

Howard's two interceptions and Allar's inability to generate points made Rudolph's value impossible to ignore. The veteran did not need another preseason drive to strengthen his position. He simply needed the younger quarterbacks to demonstrate why Pittsburgh cannot trust them yet.

The Steelers should keep all four quarterbacks. Howard and Allar represent possible answers for the future, while Rodgers and Rudolph give Pittsburgh the best chance to win now. Friday night was discouraging for the young passers, but it clarified why the veteran remains essential.

Share your Steelers reaction with me on X (@anthonyghalkias), and let me know whether Pittsburgh should keep four quarterbacks. Follow for more Steelers coverage, roster analysis and game discussion as final cuts approach.

#SteelerNation