Following a 28-9 preseason win over the Green Bay Packers on Thursday night, Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike McCarthy praised the composure and execution of young quarterbacks Will Howard and Drew Allar as the franchise evaluates its crowded quarterback room ahead of roster cuts.
Young Quarterbacks Spark Steelers in Preseason Win Over Packers
The Pittsburgh Steelers put their hopeful future under center on display during Thursday night’s preseason action against the Green Bay Packers. While veteran backup Mason Rudolph drew the start, the evening ultimately belonged to second-year player Will Howard and rookie draft pick Drew Allar. Both young signal-callers delivered strong performances that validated the team’s consideration of carrying four quarterbacks on their initial 53-man roster.
Rudolph opened the game under center, directing two drives and completing 10 of 11 passes for 93 yards without a touchdown or interception. Although Rudolph engineered a lengthy 16-play, 84-yard drive in his second possession, the possession stalled out at the 1-yard line, leaving the Steelers empty-handed. Rudolph also took two sacks during his time on the field.
Will Howard Makes Impressive Debut After Missing Rookie Preseason
For Will Howard, Thursday marked a long-awaited return to the field. The former Ohio State standout missed the preseason in 2025 after fracturing his pinkie finger and never appeared in a game after returning from injured reserve. Stepping into game action for the first time, Howard led three drives and engineered a touchdown sequence before halftime.
Howard finished the night completing 7 of 9 passes for 86 yards and orchestrated an 80-yard touchdown drive capped by a 1-yard run from Lew Nichols. His poise in the pocket and timing with pass-catchers stood out to coaching staff and observers alike, though his debut came as the Packers defense was utilizing players deeper on the depth chart.
“I like the way our quarterbacks ran the offense and that’s the big thing. . . . I thought they were very poised,” McCarthy said. “I liked the way all three of them played, especially our young guys. I liked the way Will responded. . . . He did a good job overcoming some long down on distances, and I thought his two-minute drill was outstanding. And I thought Drew played very, very well.”
Mike McCarthy, Head Coach
While analysts noted that Howard faced Packers defenders deeper on the depth chart, his ability to execute the two-minute drill efficiently earned high marks across reporting tracking the matchup.
Drew Allar Shines With Efficient Air and Ground Attack
Drew Allar entered the game for the final four drives—including a final kneel-down—and commanded the offense with remarkable efficiency. The rookie connected on 10 of 13 attempts for 153 yards, throwing two touchdown passes and adding a rushing score.
Allar wasted no time making an impact, hitting fourth-round rookie Kaden Wetjen for a 74-yard catch-and-run on his very first pass attempt. That explosive play set up an Allar rushing touchdown. Throughout his time on the field, the rookie avoided sacks and turnovers entirely.
“I thought as far as the way they took the play, commanded the huddle. … I thought they were very poised,” McCarthy said, via ESPN.
Mike McCarthy, Head Coach
Roster Decisions Loom as Preseason Continues
With the performance of Pittsburgh’s backup tier carrying significant weight, head coach Mike McCarthy characterized the outing as a good start for the quarterback room.
How Howard and Allar perform over the next couple of weeks of preseason competition will determine how the team manages its final roster cuts, specifically whether Pittsburgh ultimately retains four quarterbacks on the active roster.
Keep reading