Will Howard
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Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin shared one word on the possibility rookie Will Howard still plays in the preseason this month.
Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin called rookie quarterback Will Howard week-to-week Thursday because of his hand injury. That will very much put in doubt Howard’s potential to return before the end of the preseason.
But Tomlin isn’t ruling that out just yet.
When asked if the rookie quarterback could recover in time to appear in the team’s preseason finale on Thursday, August 21, Tomlin fired one positive word.
“Certainly,” the head coach said to reporters.
Steelers’ Will Howard Won’t Play in NFL Preseason Week 1
Tomlin was more descriptive when discussing Howard’s overall recovery timeline. The head coach mostly spoke in clichés, though, saying that it was short term and that he “will see what next week holds.”
Tomlin admitted to that mindset being optimistic. It’s probably not completely unrealistic, but it’s extremely optimistic.
NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport clearly stated Howard is “expected to miss at least three weeks” on Tuesday. Steelers insider Mark Kaboly tweeted that Howard will be sidelined for a month.
If the rookie quarterback plays in the team’s preseason finale, he will return from the hand injury in about two weeks.
The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s Gerry Dulac reported Howard will “probably miss the entire preseason.” Dulac added that the rookie signal-caller sustained the injury, which is a broken bone in his throwing hand, on a quarterback-center exchange in practice Tuesday.
Howard was back on the field at Steelers practice Thursday with a brace on his hand.
Steelers Sign QB Logan Woodside
While Tomlin did his best to paint Howard’s injury in a positive light, the Steelers may have indicated the seriousness of the ailment with a transaction.
Pittsburgh announced signing veteran quarterback Logan Woodside on Thursday.
“He’s no stranger to the NFL. He’s had a past relationship with Arthur Smith,” Tomlin told reporters of Woodside. “Given the circumstances with Will Howard, we thought that was appropriate. He’ll be a quick study. We’ll work hard over the next 48 hours. He will certainly have game availability.
“Whether or not he plays, remains to be seen, but that was the intention.”
Tomlin told reporters that Aaron Rodgers will not play in Week 1 of the preseason. So, without Howard, the Steelers needed another quarterback to help complete the game.
Woodside will bring seven years of NFL experience, most of which is from the preseason. He has never attempted a pass in an NFL regular season game.
If Howard returns for Week 3 of the preseason, then Woodside’s stint with the Steelers could be a couple weeks. But if Howard can’t make a faster than expected recovery, then Woodside may have an opportunity over the next month to compete with fellow quarterback Skylar Thompson.
On Pittsburgh’s first depth chart, the team listed Thompson as the No. 4 quarterback.
Woodside last appeared in an NFL game for the Cincinnati Bengals during the 2024 preseason. He’s dressed for 13 regular season contests in his career.
From 2020-21, he played 11 games for the Tennessee Titans. Woodside dressed for one game in 2022 and one contest in 2023 for the Atlanta Falcons.
Kaboly tweeted Thursday that Woodside and Thompson could play a “large portion” of Pittsburgh’s first preseason game. The Steelers will visit the Jacksonville Jaguars on Saturday.