Steelers' Ben Roethlisberger Pushes Back On Will Howard Panic After Brutal Jets Showing

The Pittsburgh Steelers watched one difficult preseason half create a sweeping verdict about Will Howard. Two interceptions against the New York Jets were enough for some observers to suggest the young passer had wasted his opportunity to become Pittsburgh's primary backup.

That reaction ignores how developmental football works. Howard must accept responsibility for both giveaways because they ended promising possessions. Still, reducing his performance to two throws eliminates the context coaches need when evaluating a young quarterback.

Former Steelers star Ben Roethlisberger believes the public response has gone much too far. Pittsburgh's all-time passing leader saw mistakes that require correction, but he also noticed encouraging work that disappeared once the turnovers became the only talking point. 

"I did see one article somewhere say something like, 'Will Howard blew it,' or he had a chance and lost his chance," Roethlisberger said. "They said both quarterbacks lost the chance to be the backup, or something along those lines. I am sitting here thinking to myself, why? Because he turned the ball over twice?"

Howard completed 10 of 15 passes for 74 yards during Pittsburgh's 17-0 loss. Neither interception was acceptable, and the score made his errors feel even larger. Every squandered opportunity landed under an unforgiving spotlight.

However, Howard also helped construct two drives that appeared capable of producing points before collapsing. He looked comfortable for stretches, completed two-thirds of his attempts and moved the offense into threatening areas. Those positives do not erase the interceptions, but the interceptions should not erase everything else either.

"Like, okay, no one likes that," Roethlisberger said. "Yeah, I totally agree, you can't turn the ball over. Once in the red zone and once getting on the outskirts of the red zone. I was like, yeah, that's not good, but he did a lot of really good things."

Roethlisberger even contacted former Pittsburgh quarterback Charlie Batch while reviewing the first takeaway. His immediate question concerned what the safety had read and whether Howard ever saw the defender breaking toward the football.

"Don't turn the ball over, agreed, but I'll say this," Roethlisberger continued. "The first interception, I am literally texting Charlie Batch, like, 'Chuck, show me the replay when we come out of commercial. What did you see?' As I was watching it, I don't think Will saw the safety."

That explanation does not excuse Howard's decision. It does show why preseason results require more nuance than a simple box-score judgment. Pittsburgh installs relatively basic concepts during August while protecting pieces of its regular-season plan. The surrounding design could look significantly different once the outcomes count.

Roethlisberger suggested a deeper backside route would ordinarily occupy that safety and prevent him from freely attacking Howard's intended target. Batch apparently reached a similar conclusion. That makes the interception useful teaching tape instead of proof that Howard cannot develop into a dependable NFL option.

The larger comparison strengthened Roethlisberger's argument. Las Vegas Raiders rookie Fernando Mendoza, the 2026 first overall selection and reigning Heisman Trophy winner, threw an 80-yard pick-six during his second preseason appearance. That mistake did not erase his championship pedigree or long-term potential.

"If that's the case and we're going to throw a hissy fit about a turnover or an interception, what do you think the Las Vegas Raiders are saying today when they have a No. 1 overall pick, the Heisman winner, National Player of the Year, national champion quarterback, who throws a huge pick-six in his first preseason game?" Roethlisberger said. "Is the world coming to an end for them? What are we doing?"

Steelers Cannot Let Quarterback Desperation Distort Howard's Development

Roethlisberger's point is fair. Steeler Nation is desperate to identify the franchise's next long-term answer, so every snap from Howard and Drew Allar becomes magnified. A strong throw sparks enormous optimism, while one poor read produces immediate declarations that a prospect has failed.

Howard deserves criticism for twice failing to protect the football. He does not deserve to have his development declared finished after one uneven half. The most revealing part will be how he processes the film, corrects the errors and responds during Pittsburgh's preseason finale against Buffalo.

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