Steelers to start Will Howard at QB vs. Jets; Drew Allar to follow, Rodgers and Rudolph sit
Pittsburgh will lean on its young quarterbacks in Friday's second preseason game, with Aaron Rodgers and Mason Rudolph watching from the sideline.
The Pittsburgh Steelers will get a long look at their youth movement at quarterback on Friday night.
Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter): Steelers QB Will Howard will start Friday night against the Jets, while 2026 fourth-round pick Drew Allar will follow. Neither Aaron Rodgers nor Mason Rudolph will play in the second preseason game. Story via @bepryor: https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/49660895/howard-allar-get-all-steelers-qb-reps-vs-jets
Will Howard is set to start against the Jets, with 2026 fourth-round pick Drew Allar scheduled to take over behind him. Neither Aaron Rodgers nor Mason Rudolph will see the field in the team's second preseason contest, per ESPN's Brooke Pryor, with head coach Mike McCarthy laying out the plan. It is the clearest signal yet of how Pittsburgh intends to distribute reps during the exhibition schedule.
Rodgers' absence is by design — the veteran is not expected to play in the preseason as the Steelers protect their starter — while Rudolph serves as the experienced No. 2. The decision puts the spotlight squarely on Howard and Allar, the two young passers competing to define the franchise's depth chart behind the future Hall of Famer. Friday's game becomes a showcase for both, and a chance for the coaching staff to evaluate where each stands heading into the regular season.