The Pittsburgh Steelers face a difficult decision with Will Howard as they prepare to finalize their quarterback room for the 2026 season.
The sixth-round pick has shown flashes during the preseason, but his inconsistent performances have complicated his chances of becoming Aaron Rodgers‘ backup. Former Steelers quarterback Charlie Batch believes Pittsburgh could lose Howard if it tries to place him on the practice squad.
Will Howard’s Roster Situation Is Becoming Difficult
Howard entered training camp competing with Mason Rudolph and Drew Allar for a place behind Rodgers. Rudolph brings valuable NFL experience, while Allar has also impressed enough to strengthen his roster.
Howard, meanwhile, struggled against the New York Jets. He threw two interceptions during Pittsburgh’s 17-0 preseason loss, failing to create the separation he needed in the backup competition. That performance did not help his immediate case. However, Batch believes the Steelers must consider more than Howard’s latest outing when deciding his future. NFL news platform Steelers Depot reports Charlie Batch’s comments on the situation.
“I just don’t, because of the play that he put out there. And maybe another team that had him evaluated higher a season ago. If you have a needy team, then I just don’t see how Will Howard is able to sneak to the practice squad.”
Charlie Batch thinks an NFL team would claim Will Howard if he’s put on the practice squad: “I just don’t, because of the play that he put out there. And maybe another team that had him evaluated higher a season ago. If you have a needy team, then I just don’t see how Will Howard…
— Steelers Depot 7⃣ (@Steelersdepot) August 25, 2026
Howard’s limited NFL experience makes the situation particularly interesting. A training camp injury kept him out of regular-season games during the 2025 season. He eventually returned to practice and was activated to Pittsburgh’s 53-man roster in November, but he never attempted a regular-season pass. That leaves Howard without meaningful NFL statistics entering his second professional season.
His college career, however, provides plenty of reasons for another team to take a chance on him. Howard became Ohio State’s starting quarterback in 2024 and helped the Buckeyes win the national championship. He completed 73 percent of his passes for 4,010 yards, 35 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions during that championship campaign. Those numbers helped establish Howard as a legitimate NFL prospect despite a relatively underwhelming professional history.
His 2026 preseason has produced mixed results. Howard opened the preseason with a promising performance against Green Bay, completing for 74 yards without an interception. However, his game against the Jets was considerably different. His two interceptions exposed some of the issues that can accompany a young quarterback, particularly when defenses create pressure and force quick decisions.
Still, Pittsburgh must determine whether that performance outweighs Howard’s developmental potential. The Steelers already have a complicated quarterback situation. That implies that cutting Howard could create another problem if a quarterback-needy team claims him.
Here’s the risk Batch is highlighting. While Howard may not currently be ready to become Rodgers’ full-time backup, his age, physical ability, and college résumé make him a decent potential for any side.
In the meantime, Pittsburgh has to decide whether Howard is worth protecting now for what he could become later. If the organization still believes in his upside, keeping all four quarterbacks may be preferable to giving another team the opportunity to develop him.
Related reading:
Cleveland Browns Expected to Cut QB After Making Decision
Davante Adams Reveals Why He Thinks NFL Players Get ‘Paid Out’ Instead of Beaten Out
Major Caleb Williams Prediction Will Please Bears Fans
The post Steelers Could Lose Will Howard Without Giving Him a Chance, Charlie Batch Warns appeared first on Gridiron Heroics.
Discover more from NAIRAVOICE.COM.NG
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
