Aaron Rodgers is reportedly returning to the Pittsburgh Steelers this season, according to ESPN insider Adam Schefter. It’s a $25 million deal for the 42-year-old quarterback who will reunite with his old coach, Mike McCarthy. However, the news becomes the worst-case scenario for former Ohio State quarterback Will Howard.
Will Howard Fighting for Roster Spot After Aaron Rodgers News
Will Howard is Likely on the Outside Looking In for the Quarterback Room
As much as Steelers fans don’t want to admit it, Howard is likely on his way out of Pittsburgh with Saturday’s announcement. He will stay with the team through training camp and the preseason, but it’s very possible he leaves the organization without ever taking a meaningful snap for the Steelers.
McCarthy said it would be “awesome” to work with four quarterbacks throughout training camp, but teams hardly ever carry four quarterbacks on the active roster once the regular season rolls around. Howard and Mason Rudolph are the two quarterbacks without ties to McCarthy and the new coaching staff; the former is the only one without NFL experience.
The final spot in the quarterback room is going to come down to those two players. Given how McCarthy has handled quarterback rooms in his career, the odds of going into the season with two backup quarterbacks that don’t have any experience are slim to none. Teams rarely go into a season with a veteran starter and two inexperienced backups.
Will Howard Will Need to Play His Way Onto Steelers Roster
The only way Howard makes the Steelers roster is if he plays better than Rudolph in the preseason. However, Rudolph will have the inside track, and it will likely take a considerable difference in play quality for McCarthy and general manager Omar Khan to even consider cutting Rudolph or demoting him to the practice squad.
Given that Howard missed much of last season with an injury, it’s going to be even more difficult for him to prove himself to the new coaching staff. They can’t rely on his tape from Ohio State, because comparing college to the NFL is apples and oranges.
Rudolph has often struggled in his NFL career with being able to extend the play and look off of his primary read. His lack of mobility makes things even more difficult for him, which is why he will spend the rest of his time in the league as a backup with the ability to fill in, if needed.
Steelers Have Two Options if Will Howard Doesn’t Make the Team
Teams can have as many as 16 players on the practice squad, with up to six of them having unlimited NFL experience. There is also the option to have up to 10 players on the practice squad with less than two years of NFL experience; Howard would fall under this category for clarification purposes.
Pittsburgh, like most teams, generally keeps a quarterback on the practice squad in the event of an injury. Skyler Thompson was in that role last year when Howard eventually returned from his injury. Howard would likely be in a similar situation this season if he were to remain in Pittsburgh.
The other option would be to try and trade Howard to a team that either has a quarterback go down in training camp or one that could eventually turn to him if its record was bleak after Week 12 or Week 13. Teams like the Arizona Cardinals, Washington Commanders or New York Jets could be his next stop if the front office is willing to shop him if they choose not to have him on the team.
Those same destinations, of course, could be options for Rudolph if Howard plays extremely well in the preseason. However, it’s an uphill battle to make the roster from here for the second-year quarterback.