It’s no secret how important this summer will be for Will Howard and Drew Allar. Their best and possibly only chance to step inside a stadium and show why they’re worthy of being a Steelers long-term option at quarterback. In a Wednesday reader chat, the PPG’s Gerry Dulac predicted how much they will play. Short answer? A lot.
“Barring any injuries, I think you will see Allar and Howard playing 95 percent of the snaps in the preseason….if not more,” he told one reader.
Dulac didn’t split the percentage between both quarterbacks. It’s fair and safe to say they will dominate snaps. Both need every rep possible. Howard missed all of the 2025 preseason after breaking a bone in his throwing hand during training camp. Howard was potentially in line to see regular-season snaps in Week 18. All Pittsburgh had to do was beat the last-place Cleveland Browns to clinch the division a week earlier, allowing the team to rest starters for the finale. But the Steelers were upset and needed the finale to win the AFC North and make the playoffs.
Mike McCarthy’s already shown a willingness to test Allar’s limits. He was the only quarterback at last weekend’s rookie minicamp and took all 35 team reps. The PPG’s Ray Fittipaldo noted that Allar looked “gassed” by the end, a reasonable outcome given how rare it is for a quarterback to have such a heavy workload. Especially for a rookie’s first NFL practices. McCarthy seemed pleased by Allar’s work, and he passed his first test.
Even if Aaron Rodgers signs, it’s doubtful he’ll play in the preseason. He knows McCarthy’s system and has only logged preseason action twice in the last seven seasons: 2018 (which, in fairness, was under McCarthy) and 2023 with the New York Jets. Rodgers sat out all three exhibition games last summer.
Mason Rudolph should see some time. But a veteran like him needs fewer reps. Perhaps the best reason to play him would be as a showcase if the Steelers want to trade Rudolph, but his lengthy NFL resume gives plenty for prospective teams to evaluate.
Dividing reps in training camp is easy. It’s a controlled environment. Game action is harder. Predicting how a game will flow and how many snaps are available is more challenging, and it’ll be up to McCarthy to give Howard and Allar ample time. When the preseason kicks off, the Steelers will see plenty of their youngest quarterbacks with every pass and decision viewed with a critical eye.
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