Is Aaron Rodgers’ Return Good Or Bad For Will Howard And Drew Allar?
After four months of speculation, Aaron Rodgers is back. An expected outcome even if the wait was frustrating and annoying, even more so than 2025’s version. Now, the question is what comes next.
Rodgers will start, of course. That’s a given. Where do Will Howard and Drew Allar slot in? And is it good or bad that Rodgers’ returns?
One of the greatest quarterbacks in history, Rodgers can provide mentorship few others can. Despite media narratives, Rodgers is a quality teammate willing to share his knowledge and wisdom on younger quarterbacks. He was begrudged by Brett Favre in Green Bay and made it a point not to treat young quarterbacks the same way.
Howard learned plenty from Rodgers last year, who kept him involved while Howard was on the mend from a training camp hand injury. The two genuinely seem like fast friends, Rodgers inviting Howard to a charity event earlier this year long before Saturday’s decision became final.
Allar figures to receive the same treatment this year, though hopefully he’s healthy enough to have the preseason reps Howard missed. Allar is a project who needs to sit and learn while he improves his mechanics. He’s not ready for regular season action. It seems clear that Rodgers playing a 22nd season is a positive development for Allar, who was unlikely to play even if Rodgers retired.
The better question is for Howard, and it’s harder to argue the point. Howard’s already learned plenty from Rodgers. While seeing the field in preseason action can unlock new conversations and situations, learning is doing after all, Howard may have just seen his best chance to start for the Steelers disappear.
At best, he’ll now be the No. 2 quarterback behind a tough and historically durable Rodgers. He is 42 and suffered injuries in recent years, including a partially fractured wrist in 2025, but he’s played in 16 or more games in seven of the last eight seasons.
Had Rodgers walked away, Howard would be the favorite to start. Or, at the least, have even chances with Mason Rudolph. Now, assuming Howard plays minimal 2027 snaps, he could find himself battling Allar or a first round rookie next summer and be on the outside-looking-in.
Rodgers’ return brings pluses and minuses. There’s reason for Allar and Howard to be excited. There’s reason for each to feel a twinge of disappointment the dream of battling for the QB1 role this preseason just vanished.
Clearly, the situation was out of their control. Rodgers is back. Which means Howard and Allar are clear backups for 2026.
The Steelers have a long road ahead of them under Mike McCarthy, along with his cadre of quarterbacks.With seven consecutive postseason losses, and no wins in nearly a decade, they are under fire for their repeated playoff failures. While we have seen many changes, none could dream of topping Mike Tomlin resigning.
We’re already deep into the offseason, with free agency and the draft already reshaping rosters. The Steelers, of course, are used to early offseason mode as a team thatloses by the middle of January all the time. Enjoy the ride, even the turbulence, because it’s the only way we know how to travel anymore.
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