Pittsburgh’s Friday night game against the Jets is gonna look a lot different under center, with head coach Mike McCarthy making a huge call: second-year QB Will Howard gets the start, and rookie Drew Allar will follow him up. The youth movement is HERE.
The Young Guns Are Taking Over The Huddle
You heard that right! Starter Aaron Rodgers and veteran backup Mason Rudolph are both sitting out this week. This isn’t drama, it’s about getting the young blood ready. McCarthy didn’t mince words, telling reporters Wednesday, “I think you understand, they’re young. Will didn’t get to play last year. Drew’s a first-year player.” It makes total sense, right? You can’t develop these guys just watching. They gotta get crucial game-time snaps against real NFL competition.
McCarthy also made it clear he feels “really good” about both Rodgers and Rudolph, especially after he “saw what I needed to see from Mason last week.” He’s even “talked highly about Mason, really, since the spring.” So this isn’t a demotion for the vets; it’s a strategic move to “max out the opportunities for both Will and Drew.” It’s their chance to prove they belong.
Allar’s Rookie Flash Forces The Issue
So, why now? What sparked this decision to put the young guys front and center? Just look at the numbers from last week’s battle against the Packers. Mason Rudolph actually had a pretty clean outing, playing 19 snaps and completing 10-of-11 passes for 93 yards. Howard, the second-year guy, came in next, also with 19 snaps, and put up a respectable 7-of-9 for 86 yards.
But then, there’s Drew Allar. Man, did that rookie show out! In his 30 snaps, Allar absolutely lit it up, connecting on 10-of-13 passes for a whopping 153 yards and two touchdowns. Two TDs! That’s the kind of explosive production that grabs attention. It’s obvious McCarthy wants to see if Allar can keep that momentum rolling with more dedicated playing time. And hey, Howard gets his big shot too, a chance to prove he’s ready after being sidelined last year. This isn’t just an exhibition, it’s an audition.
All eyes are gonna be glued to Howard and Allar on Friday night. Can Howard step up and show he’s got the chops for a bigger role? And can Allar continue to flash that absolute cannon arm and playmaking ability he displayed last week? This isn’t just another game; it’s a massive opportunity for both of them to seriously stake their claim for future playing time and show the Steelers faithful what the future could truly hold. You absolutely don’t want to miss it.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Pro Football Talk.
Leave a Reply