The Pittsburgh Steelers found out rather quickly that this isn't the 2021 Green Bay Packers version of Aaron Rodgers. Quite frankly, they may not even be getting the 2024 New York Jets version of Rodgers.
Now 42 years old, Rodgers' performance has fallen off a cliff in the second half of the season. In his Week 13 contest against the Buffalo Bills, Rodgers completed just 10 passes on 21 attempts for 117 yards (5.6 yards per attempt). This equated to a dismal 6.2 QBR.
But it gets worse... much worse, in fact.
Over his last five starts entering Week 14, Rodgers has averaged just 163.2 passing yards per game despite throwing 27.6 times per game. This amounts to 5.9 yards per attempt, which is accompanied by an 83.5 passer rating.
And the upside simply isn't there. Over the month of November (four starts), Rodgers recorded just 123 completed air yards on 102 pass attempts—giving him a disgraceful 1.3 completed air yards per attempt. This means that Rodgers's average completion is traveling less than a yard-and-a-half past the line of scrimmage in the second half of the 2025 season.
While we can point to Arthur Smith's passing concepts or, better yet, Mike Tomlin's flawed, conservative philosophy, Rodgers is a problem... and it's time to deploy the rookie.
The Pittsburgh Steelers should turn to rookie QB Will Howard the rest of the way
Let's be honest—none of the three quarterbacks on Pittsburgh's current roster is going to be enough to help the Steelers compete in the playoffs this year. Tomlin's team can't pass the football, has trouble establishing the run, and the overpaid defense is average at best. Even if they find a way to sneak into the playoffs, they won't be able to do anything with a 42-year-old, check-down QB playing the worst football of his NFL career.
Because of this, it's time for the Steelers to turn to Will Howard for a spark.
We've seen the Mason Rudolph experiment time and again, and we know that the 30-year-old backup isn't the answer. Howard probably isn't either. But at least he offers a glimmer of hope.
READ MORE: Steelers officially have a massive Aaron Rodgers problem after Week 13
Howard has the prototype size the Steelers covet at the QB position, and the willingness to throw the ball over the middle of the field. While there are sure to be growing pains with a rookie quarterback at the helm, it's hard to imagine Pittsburgh's passing offense looking worse than it has with Rodgers and Rudolph over the past five weeks.
At worst, Howard gets much-needed in-game experience. And if the Steelers happen to lose out with him at under center, so be it. This team is headed nowhere fast, and real change won't occur if Pittsburgh continues to keep its head just above water.
At best, Howard shows that—despite being a sixth-round draft pick—he possesses an 'it' factor and has enough tools to offer hope as the future signal-caller of this team.
At this point, what do the Steelers have to lose? Another 9-8 season that ends in disappointment? I'll take my chances.