Rookie QB Winning Respect from the Sidelines in Pittsburgh
After suffering a fractured bone in his throwing hand last week, Will Howard has been sidelined and will continue to be for a bit longer. The original timetable for Howard to return was at least three weeks, but Mike Tomlin hasn’t ruled out the possibility of him playing in a pre-season game. Slated to miss their upcoming exhibition against Tampa Bay, there is a chance we could see Howard suit up against the Panthers in Pittsburgh’s last pre-season game on August 21st, assuming he has a speedy recovery. Many people are speculating whether or not the former Buckeye will make the 53-man roster, especially with Skylar Thompson’s electric pre-season start.
With Mason Rudolph currently listed as the backup behind Aaron Rodgers, Thompson and Howard are fighting for the last QB spot on the roster. What is it about Will Howard that makes him the odd man out? I can confidently say I’ve never seen a rookie with so much raw confidence and leadership coming out the gate: “It sucks. You know, every ounce of me wants to be out there, and I’m just kinda sitting here doing nothing. It kills me…It was a freak accident, but things happen. It’s about how you respond to it and how you handle the adversity.” The rookie said on Tuesday when asked how it’s been dealing with an early injury.
Will Howard came into the league as a sixth-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft with no expectations whatsoever. Throughout the offseason, he’s constantly impressed players and staff within Pittsburgh’s organization with his actions on and off the field. Something that caught my eye during the interview on Tuesday was when Howard used the words “mental reps”. He said that although he can’t get out onto the field, he has to stay locked in during meetings, during practices, and “still get all the mental reps”. I’ve said since the moment the Steelers drafted him that coming off a National Championship win is an extremely undervalued thing to have in a rookie QB, because you can’t teach winning. Winning is something that these players have built into their blood. They love to do it, and they’ll do anything they can to make sure they don’t lose. However, very few players come into the league with the level of experience that Howard possesses. The Steelers see this, too. Howard has received countless amounts of praise for his leadership skills from his teammates and coaching staff. When he returns from injury, I’m expecting to see him make the most of his opportunity. Watch out for Will Howard.
