The Pittsburgh Steelers are coming off their worst offensive performance of the season, losing 25-10 to the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday night. The loss dropped them to 5-4 on the season, barely clinging to the top spot in the AFC North.
Veteran quarterback Aaron Rodgers completed 16 of 31 passes for 161 yards and one touchdown, which came in the final three minutes of the fourth quarter, along with two interceptions.
While Rodgers acknowledged postgame that he needs to play better and will remain the team's starting quarterback, the Steelers made a notable roster move at the position on Wednesday by activating sixth-round rookie Will Howard, who suffered an injury prior to the regular season that kept him sidelined until now.
Howard returned to practice on Oct. 22, which opened a 21-day window for the Steelers to activate him. They finally did so this week, adding him to a quarterback room that includes Rodgers and Mason Rudolph, while Skylar Thompson remains sidelined.
"It was like all that joy of being a little kid playing football again came back," Howard said after returning to practice. "My first two plays on the scout team, I handed the ball off. I don't think I've ever smiled more on two handoff plays in my life. I was just happy to be back out there.
"It's been a long time. I'm just happy to be out there doing what I love."
It'll be a long shot for Howard to see the field this season, as he enters the team as the third-string quarterback behind Rodgers and Rudolph. Still, it's a step in the right direction, and he's taking full advantage of every rep and opportunity in practice - learning from an NFL legend like Rodgers, who sits right in front of him.
Howard spent the majority of his college career at Kansas State before transferring to Ohio State for his final year of eligibility. The move turned out to be one of the best decisions of his career, as he not only became a household name in the football world but also led the Buckeyes to a national championship while putting together an impressive season on the field.
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