Steelers backup quarterback Will Howard is officially under evaluation for a head injury, and let me tell you, this is a massive gut punch for Pittsburgh coming right after their brutal 28-27 loss to the Bills. This isn’t just about one game, either. This news immediately throws a wrench into the Steelers’ reported plan to keep four quarterbacks on their final 53-player roster, a depth strategy that now looks shaky before the regular season even kicks off. What a curveball right before cutdowns!
Another Injury Upsetting the QB Depth
Man, this feels like déjà vu for Howard. He spent almost all of last season chilling on injured reserve because of a hand injury picked up way back in training camp. Now, after reporting an injury to the medical staff during the second half of Thursday night’s game against the Bills, he was completely unavailable for postgame interviews. That’s never a good sign. If this head injury turns out to be a concussion, it practically guarantees him a spot on injured reserve to start the season, or maybe even for the whole thing. That’s a huge problem for a team reportedly wanting to stash four signal-callers, especially with final roster spots on the line.
The Numbers Tell a Story, But Not the Whole Story
Before his injury, Howard put up some decent numbers against the Bills, going 9-of-15 for 69 yards, throwing two touchdowns, but also one interception. Taking three sacks in the first half alone, though, that’s definitely a worry. Drew Allar stepped in for the second half, completing 9-of-18 passes for 88 yards. Looking at the whole preseason, Howard finished with 26 completions on 39 attempts for 229 yards, two touchdowns, and three interceptions. He and Allar actually split the final two preseason games, showing how much the coaches were evaluating these guys head-to-head. Meanwhile, starter Aaron Rodgers sat out the entire preseason, and Mason Rudolph only made an appearance in the preseason opener. Now, with Howard’s status up in the air, those numbers get way more significant as roster decisions loom. Every throw and every injury really counts.
So, the Steelers are staring down final cutdowns with a huge question mark. This injury to Will Howard makes those decisions way tougher than they should be. They had a strategy, a plan to keep multiple guys ready and provide solid depth, and now one of them is in serious doubt with a potential concussion. The team has to figure out its QB room fast, especially with the regular season on deck. This is a fluid situation Pittsburgh fans will be watching with bated breath, because depth matters more than ever as the real games get started. What a way to head into Week 1!
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.
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