The Pittsburgh Steelers enter Week 8 with a 4-2 record, and while veteran quarterback Aaron Rodgers continues to perform at an elite level at 41, questions about the future at the position continue to loom.
Rodgers announced this offseason that he intends to retire following the season. Currently, the Steelers' quarterback room includes Mason Rudolph, Skylar Thompson, and rookie sixth-round pick Will Howard, who was drafted out of Ohio State after winning the 2024 national championship.
Howard appears to be the leading candidate to eventually take over for Rodgers. After missing the first seven weeks of the season due to an offseason injury sustained in training camp, Howard's return was confirmed on Wednesday, as the Steelers officially opened his 21-day practice window. He will remain on the reserve/injured, designated for return list this week against the Green Bay Packers.
Howard appeared in 50 games during his college career, spending four years at Kansas State before transferring to Ohio State for his senior season. Over those five seasons, he completed 767 of 1,202 passes (63.8%) for 9,796 yards, 83 touchdowns, and just 10 interceptions.
In his final season with the Buckeyes, Howard completed 309 of 423 passes for 4,010 yards and 35 touchdowns. His completion percentage set both a career and school record and helped lead Ohio State to 14 wins, including four consecutive victories in the College Football Playoff, culminating in a national championship win over Notre Dame.
When Howard returns, the Steelers will likely face a decision regarding their quarterback room, specifically whether to carry three QBs on the active roster.
If they choose to do so, they'll probably need to decide between Howard and Thompson for the third-string role. Rudolph is expected to remain as QB No. 2 behind Rodgers, given his experience and his role over the past seven weeks.
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