It's a tough business when it comes to surviving the NFL. The Pittsburgh Steelers have an ongoing conundrum at the quarterback position. They have four on the roster, and after a strong start to the preseason for all of them, they must decide what to do with that position going forward. Will Howard is currently the odd man out, but that could change in a hurry with the recent news surrounding him.
Steelers head coach Mike McCarthy recently announced that Will Howard will start their second preseason matchup against the New York Jets.
The plan is for Howard to start the game and go through the entire first half, and then have Drew Allar play the second half. The team seems dead set on Aaron Rodgers and Mason Rudolph being their top two quarterbacks on the roster this year.
With Rudolph probably being the backup, that puts Will Howard in a tough spot to make the roster unless they hold onto all four QBs. This is one of the more talented groups at the position that the team has seen for a while. It will be up to Howard to show in the second preseason game that he is worth keeping around this year, but also show that he could be a viable option long-term.
Pittsburgh Steelers QB Will Howard could win a roster spot in Game 2 of the preseason
Make no mistake about it; this will be the biggest moment of Will Howard's professional career to date.
He failed to register an in-game snap during his rookie campaign, including the preseason, but this time around has to be different. He started with a solid showing in his first game action against the Packers, but this battle against New York will mean everything for him going forward.
It appears that his potential job upgrade to the backup quarterback spot might already be a lost cause. Normally, that would be terrible news for a formerlate-roundsignal-callerd pick like Howard, but maybe it isn't the worst outcome. The young signal caller still has a shot at sticking around and competing long-term. His future career hinges on the outcome of this upcoming preseason game against the Jets.
If Howard struggles to manage the offense this week, then his future in Pittsburgh immediately becomes fuzzy.
He must protect the football and be effective in leading drives down the field. A strong showing against the Jets, especially if some starters are on defense, could get Howard in good graces. Anything other than looking like a strong and capable player could cause him to miss out on a roster spot.
Losing out on the backup job would be a concerning outcome for Howard, especially this early in the preseason. With that said, not all hope is lost for the Steelers quarterback, as time is still on his side. His extra snaps could either turn out to be a blessing or a curse for the young player. Keep an eye on Howard, as the outcome of this preseason game might affect his immediate future with the Steelers.
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