With a huge Pittsburgh Steelers win over the Lions on Sunday and the Ravens dropping one to the Patriots, the AFC North is now Pittsburgh’s to lose. The Steelers could lock up the division before they even take the field against the Browns if Baltimore falls to the Packers on Saturday. If the Ravens win, all Pittsburgh has to do is beat Cleveland to claim the AFC North.
If either of those scenarios plays out, it should be obvious that Pittsburgh’s 2025 sixth-round pick deserves to get the start in Week 18.
Will Howard deserves a look in Week 18 if the Pittsburgh Steelers lock up the AFC North
You could make the argument that if the Ravens lose Saturday night, Aaron Rodgers should not even play, and the Steelers should consider starting Mason Rudolph, Will Howard, or even both. However, that is hard to predict, given that all week the expectation has been that Rodgers will take the field.
If Pittsburgh clinches the AFC North, many starters will sit in Week 18 against Baltimore. Heading into the playoffs fully healthy is crucial, especially since the Steelers have not had the luxury in years of hosting a playoff game with a healthy roster. For many seasons, they have been fighting just to make the playoffs, often entering Week 18 on the edge of elimination.
When Week 18 arrives, the decision should be clear: start Will Howard. The former national champion and 2025 sixth-round pick missed the entire preseason due to a hand injury and started the regular season on IR. The Steelers have yet to see what Howard is truly capable of, and there is no better opportunity than a meaningless Week 18 game.
Mason Rudolph should not start. He has already played this season, and we know exactly what he brings. It is time to give the rookie meaningful snaps and a chance to showcase his talent. With Aaron Rodgers potentially retiring after this season, the Steelers will need a starting quarterback for 2026. The draft does not have many standout options, and the free agent market is thin.
Even if Howard performs well in just one game, it will not be enough to definitively name him the starter in 2026, but it will at least give insight into his potential. Rarely do sixth-round picks pan out, but after a year learning under Rodgers, it could be smart to see if Howard could be a legitimate starter before committing a first-round pick to a quarterback in next year’s draft.