How Is the Steelers 2025 Sixth-Round Pick Recovering as a Return from IR Is Imminent?
Steelers rookie quarterback Will Howard injured his hand during training camp. The team placed him on injured reserve before the start of the 2025 regular season. Players placed on IR must miss a minimum of four games before they’re eligible to return. Howard is eligible to return to practice now. The Steelers have a bye week in Week Five. Howard is eligible to play in games starting in Week Six.
Howard has been making the most of his time out with an injury. Veteran quarterback Aaron Rodgers has been mentoring him. Howard has been helping Rodgers run meetings. He remarked, “My goal has been, can I pick up one thing every day from Aaron?” Rodgers and the coaching staff have been keeping him busy during his time off the field. Howard said, “We’ve come up with a kind of a plan of action for me to really stay involved, and still treat it like I’m gonna be out there on game day. The coaches have given me a few projects to do.”
Quarterbacks coach Tom Arth believes that Howard is ready to begin participating in practice again. He said, “Will Howard has handled the injury as a professional, just as we would expect him to. Really appreciative of our athletic training staff, our strength and conditioning staff. They've done a fantastic job working with Will. I think he's in great shape right now. He's been in as good a shape as he's been since he's been a Pittsburgh Steeler.” While it’s unlikely that Howard will play in any games this season, his return to practice will help him get acclimated to the NFL.
The Steelers chose Howard in the sixth round of this year’s NFL Draft. He played collegiate football for the Kansas State Wildcats before transferring to the Ohio State Buckeyes. In 2023, Howard was named to the second-team All-Big 12. He was named to the third-team All-Big Ten in 2024. On January 20th, 2025, Howard led the Buckeyes to victory in the College Football Playoff National Championship Game. The Buckeyes defeated the Notre Dame Fighting Irish 34-23. Howard was named Offensive MVP of the game. Throughout his college football career, he played in 50 games, starting in 44.
