Friday’s preseason shutout loss to the New York Jets, a goose egg that screamed “uh oh” from Pittsburgh, surprisingly didn’t change the Steelers’ plans for their two young quarterbacks. The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s Gerry Dulac dropped the news Saturday: the Steelers decided before that 0-0 dud that both Drew Allar and Will Howard were sticking around past the 53-man roster cutdown deadline. Even with those two unable to muster a single scoring drive against the Jets, the front office is apparently locked in.
The Ugly Truth on the Field
Let’s be real, what happened Friday night was rough. Aaron Rodgers, the starting signal-caller, was sitting out, as was projected backup Mason Rudolph. That left the field wide open for Howard and Allar to show what they got. And man, did they ever miss the mark. Howard, a sixth-round pick from 2025 who spent last season as a depth option after a hand injury, tossed two interceptions. Two! Against a Jets defense that didn’t pick off a single pass all of last season. That’s not just bad luck, that’s a red flag waving furiously. Then there’s Allar, a 2026 third-round draft pick, who found himself sacked three times. You get a full half to impress, with the big names watching from the sidelines, and that’s the performance? Steelers fans have every right to be pulling their hair out right now.
The Rudolph Question And Rodgers’ Exit Plan
So, Allar and Howard are in, despite the mess. But the “question remains,” according to Dulac, whether Mason Rudolph will even be on the roster for next season. Coach Mike McCarthy said he didn’t play Rudolph against the Jets because he “saw what I needed to see from Mason last week.” Is that confidence, or a coach trying to showcase the young guys? Rudolph, set to hit unrestricted free agency before the 2027 campaign, could easily become a trade candidate before Week 1. This whole situation gets even wilder when you zoom out: Rodgers has made it crystal clear he plans to retire after the 2026 season. That means Pittsburgh is already eyeing their next franchise QB. The hope has to be that keeping two young quarterbacks, even after a performance like Friday’s, gives them a better shot at finding that guy. But if Friday was any indication, they’ve got some serious work ahead to turn either Allar or Howard into a post-Rodgers solution.
What’s Next for the Steel City?
With Week 1 fast approaching, the Steelers have some tough calls. Does McCarthy really feel comfortable enough with Allar or Howard as Rodgers’ backup that he’d trade Rudolph? After Friday’s showing, that’s a tough sell. Every snap counts for these young QBs as Pittsburgh tries to figure out who, if anyone, can step up in the shadow of a retiring legend. The next few weeks leading into the regular season are going to be absolutely critical for the future of the Steel City under center.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Bleacher Report.
Leave a Reply