The Pittsburgh Steelers offense completely cratered, getting shut out 17-0 by the New York Jets in Week 2 of exhibition play. After what looked like some promising quarterback debuts just a week ago, the offense went stone cold, especially with Will Howard taking the snaps.
Howard’s Roster Bid Just Went Nuclear
Head coach Mike McCarthy handed the start to Howard, saying he’d seen enough from Mason Rudolph. But man, did that decision ever backfire. The Ohio State product did everything but impress. After a quick three and out, followed by a four-play drive that ended in a punt, Howard tossed a red zone interception directly to Jets safety Andre Cisco. That pick absolutely killed a 12-play drive that was finally building some momentum. And it wasn’t a one-off! His next drive ended in similar fashion, with Howard under-throwing Roman Wilson for another pick, this time snagged by Samuel Womack. His day was done after the first half, finishing with a paltry 74 yards and those two killer interceptions on 10-of-15 passing. This was his shot to prove he could back up Aaron Rodgers, but instead, it looks like Howard might’ve just played himself right off the 53-man roster entirely. Talk about high stakes and a total whiff.
Allar’s Tough Night and Some Defensive Flashes
Unfortunately for Steelers fans, Drew Allar’s night wasn’t much better, though for different reasons. The offensive line was a sieve, allowing the third-round pick to get sacked three times. Still, Allar did show a flash of brilliance, breaking left and unleashing a 38-yard sideline pass to Lake McRee for the Steelers’ longest play of the game. But consistency was nowhere to be found, as he finished with 11-of-23 passing for 110 yards. Seven dropped passes and zero separation from Cornell Powell, Levi Wentz, Jaheim Bell, and Joaqin Davis definitely didn’t help his cause.
The first-team defense didn’t exactly cover themselves in glory either, looking flat-out unprepared to start the game. The Jets marched 69 yards in 10 plays for an opening touchdown, with QB Smith hitting Jelani Woods wide open in the flat because both Alex Highsmith and Patrick Queen crashed on Smith. The Jets didn’t score again until a late fourth-quarter 31-yard touchdown from Quincy Skinner.
But hey, preseason isn’t just about the score, right? It’s about how guys look. And there were a few positive individual performances. Defensive tackle Yahya Black got a huge mitt on a Geno Smith throw, batting it down at the line. DeShon Elliott forced a fumble on third down, which was awesome to see from a healthy Elliott, even if the Steelers didn’t recover it. And Carson Bruener had a fantastic sequence, batting down a Cade Klubnik pass before sacking Klubnik right before halftime. Little things to build on, at least.
So, where does this leave Pittsburgh’s QB room? Will Howard’s night was a disaster for his roster hopes. Allar showed some grit but needs way more help from his line and receivers. For exhibition play, the final score really doesn’t matter as much as these individual performances. The coaching staff has some serious evaluations to make, especially at quarterback. They’ve got to figure out who’s truly ready to step up as the regular season gets closer.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Behind the Steel Curtain.
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