Steelers Now Have 2 IR Candidates After The Conclusion Of Preseason

The Pittsburgh Steelers have officially concluded their 2026 preseason and are now ready to prepare for their Week 1 matchup against the Atlanta Falcons. These past three exhibition games were a little different than in years past, with Will Howard and Drew Allar seeing the majority of the snaps. Mike McCarthy continues his plan to develop the two young gunslingers while keeping his two veterans, Aaron Rodgers and Mason Rudolph, ready to go in real NFL action. 

Despite this being his second season, Howard saw his first NFL snaps against the Green Bay Packers after missing most of August in 2025 with a hand injury. The former Ohio State Buckeyes standout threw for 229 yards, two touchdowns, and three interceptions throughout the exhibition bouts this past month. He showed fans there is still work to be done, but also good things to build on. Although a lot of eyes were on Howard, he wasn't the only one under a microscope. 

With Patrick Graham taking over the defense and bringing fresh new ideas, the secondary has been one of the most anticipated groups on the team to step up. In March, General Manager Omar Khan went out and upgraded the back end by signing Jamel Dean, Jaquan Brisker, and selecting Daylen Everette in the 2026 NFL Draft. Dean and Everette have seen action this preseason and will be ready for Week 1, but Brisker has yet to take the field for the team due to injury. 

Following the loss to the Buffalo Bills, it was reported that Howard was being evaluated for an injury, and with the Steelers' plan to keep all four QBs, it may have just gotten much easier. Team insider Ray Fittipaldo of the Post-Gazette recently appeared on an episode of The North Shore Drive podcast hosted by colleague Christopher Carter. Fittipaldo suggests that both Brisker and Howard could find their way onto injured reserve to start the 2026 regular season. 

"We were told [Howard] was being evaluated for a concussion, but to me, Chris, it looked like he was dealing with some rib injuries or something in the middle of his body," Fittipaldo stated. "So listen, I think perhaps he would be an option for IR. I think Jaquan Brisker would be an option for IR. Now, you have to carry those guys originally on your original 53-man roster, then you could add some guys back." 

If the Steelers want to keep Howard on the 53-man roster, they can now place him on IR, where he would not occupy a roster spot. With Rodgers claiming 2026 will be his final season and Rudolph in a contract year with no guarantee of re-signing, the organization likely doesn't want to risk losing either Howard or Allar. McCarthy spoke very highly about Howard all offseason and even gave him QB1 reps during the offseason program. 

Brisker starting the season on IR would be less than ideal for the defense, which already lacks depth at the safety position. If that is the path that's chosen, seventh-round rookie Robert Spear-Jennings could very well suit up in Week 1. Spear-Jennings has shown his hard-hitting ability, but his coverage still needs improvement. With the lack of safety depth on the roster however, the team may have no other option. 

Steelers Need Brisker Back As Soon As Possible

Brisker is currently listed as the Steelers' starting free safety on the depth chart, but he hasn't played a snap against a real opponent yet with his new team. The coaching staff hasn't seen what their starting secondary looks like in game action. Rayshawn Jenkins has played well in his stead and even earned the night off in the preseason finale, but he was an August signing, and players signed in August are typically available that late for a reason. 

Sunday, August 30, is the deadline for NFL teams to cut their roster from 90 to 53. By then, fans will know whether Howard and Brisker go on IR and whether any roster-bubble players stay in Pittsburgh. 

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