Ben Roethlisberger Thinks the 2026 Steelers Can’t Afford to Put a Young QB on the Practice Squad
This is Aaron Rodgers’ final season playing in the NFL. The Steelers are still uncertain about who their starting QB will be next season. The Steelers currently have four QBs on their roster: Rodgers, Mason Rudolph, 2025 sixth-round pick Will Howard, and 2026 third-round pick Drew Allar. Rudolph is a proven backup QB. Howard and Allar are two young QBs with the potential to become starters eventually.
Legendary Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger thinks that the team should protect both Howard and Allar. Putting one of their young QBs on the practice squad would be dangerous. The two-time Super Bowl Champion believes that the Steelers can’t afford the risk. During his Footbahlin With Ben Roethlisberger podcast on Friday, he shared his thoughts on the two promising QBs.
Roethlisberger remarked, “I’m extremely excited about both young quarterbacks.” He added, “I would be incredibly encouraged as a Steeler fan to say I think our future is there. But let’s be certain, you know what I’m saying.” Roethlisberger cautioned against putting either of them on the practice squad, saying, “I love the fact you have two options. You can’t afford to put either one of those on the practice squad. Somebody’s scooping them up.”
A player with less than four years of accrued NFL time needs to clear waivers before he can be moved from the training camp roster to the practice squad. While the player is on waivers, he can be claimed by another team to join their active roster. Even if a player clears waivers and is successfully moved from the training camp roster to the practice squad, he’s still vulnerable. Teams can sign players from another team’s practice squad to their active roster during the league year.
Howard and Allar both performed well in the Steelers’ first preseason game. The Steelers defeated the Green Bay Packers 28-9. Howard completed seven of nine passes for 86 yards. The former Buckeye led an eight-play, 80-yard touchdown drive during the two-minute drill late in the first half. Allar completed 10 of 13 passes for 153 yards and two touchdowns and added a rushing touchdown.
Roethlisberger noted that one preseason game isn’t enough to determine whether or not Howard or Allar could have a real future with the Steelers. The team has two more preseason games to continue to see how Howard and Allar perform. That will help them decide whether to continue developing both QBs. Everyone will be closely watching Howard and Allar when the Steelers face the New York Jets on August 21st at Acrisure Stadium.
