Alright, so Will Howard just gave Pittsburgh a major headache in their preseason game against the New York Jets on Friday. This dude, who was starting at quarterback, tossed not one, but *two* interceptions straight to Jets defenders over the middle. And get this: the 2025 Jets became the first squad in NFL history to finish a season with zero regular season interceptions. Seriously, Howard acted as their “slump buster.” You can’t make this stuff up. CBS Sports even slapped him with the title of “one of the biggest losers of the preseason.”
Will Howard’s Preseason Disaster: What It Really Means
Let’s just be real for a second. Throwing two picks like that is already bad enough. But doing it against a team that historically *never* gets picks? That’s next-level frustrating. Both throws, intended for wide receiver Roman Wilson, sailed right into Jets hands. This isn’t just a bad outing, it’s a huge red flag waving in the middle of the field. What does this do for Howard’s spot on the depth chart? It definitely isn’t helping him stay ahead of third-round rookie Drew Allar, that’s for sure. If you’re a Steelers fan, you’ve got to be pulling your hair out seeing this kind of early performance from your backup QBs.
Rodgers Can’t Do It All, But He Has To
Now, why does Howard’s struggle hit so hard? Because it immediately throws a spotlight on how much the Steelers are relying on Aaron Rodgers. We all know Rodgers. He led them to the top of the AFC North last season, and he’s back with his Super Bowl-winning coach, Mike McCarthy. On paper, it’s all sunshine and roses with Rodgers at the helm, and he’s expected to have a stellar season. But what happens if he gets hurt? What if, for whatever reason, he just isn’t performing at his usual elite level? That’s where the trouble starts, and Howard’s performance just screamed “WE HAVE A PROBLEM” if that scenario plays out.
The Steelers have four quarterbacks on the roster, which sounds like depth, but let’s be honest, Rodgers is “heads and shoulders above the rest.” This preseason stumble from Howard just screams that Pittsburgh needs to get serious about developing the backups they have. This isn’t just about winning one preseason game, it’s about the security blanket for the whole damn season. They need these guys ready. They need to figure this out, and fast, because Rodgers can’t carry the load forever, and right now, the backups aren’t inspiring confidence.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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