Will Howard QB1 for now?

Brice · Apr 21, 2026 at 4:12 PM

Hanratty#5 said: ↑

I saw Tom Pelissaro on the NFL Network say it this morning. It's been discussed all day on 93.7 The Fan. It's not like the Steelers have named Howard the opening day starter but he is the one taking first team snaps in mini camp.
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Mike McCarthy just said today they have been splitting reps between the QBs for the last 2 days.

Who is your source that is reporting Will Howard as getting all the first team reps?

james weyandt · Apr 21, 2026 at 4:41 PM

old man Rodgers will probably play. But---he won't sign or say anything until all the offseason stuff is over. He doesn't want to do anything until he has to...

Blast Furnace · Apr 21, 2026 at 4:47 PM

S.T.D said: ↑

Funny many on here told me , and others that whole Rodgers thing was a Tomlin thing. I guess he's still running the show even though he left. A whole bunch of You are going to realize a bunch of what you thought was Tomlin wasn't.
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Dude what???

What exactly was Tomlin supposed to be responsible for here? I know he gets criticized for a lot but think you pulled that one out of your tushie.

S.T.D said: ↑

You, and @KnoxVegasSteel are also the guys that said he would be out of the NFL 5 years ago. I guess eventually you will be correct. LoL
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Yeah just going to pretend he wasn’t on the way out when Steelers threw him a lifeline after striking out in free agency. Rudolph admitted as much but enjoy your alternate reality

Steel_Elvis · Apr 21, 2026 at 4:48 PM

Karl said: ↑

"The crap that Aaron Rogers does"
Well, he's 43. He's played a lot of great football. He's probably going to the HOF. etc.
More importantly, he told the Steelers that no decision will be made until X date.
Perhaps he's talked with Mike McCarthy like Tomlin, he said I'll be there but not until X (if you sign the contract too soon, you're subject to camps and fines for missing those)

On the other hand.
The Steelers can easily say, "We need you under contract and you don't have to attend those camps"
or
"Go fly a kite."

The QB situation in Pittsburgh is dismal.
Anyone, anyone at all that thinks Mason will have a miracle comeback is in for some rude awaking.
The other folks are over optimistic about Will Howard. But at least he has the unknow behind him since he spent all last year not playing
I don't subscribe to Kaboly's critique. I think it's lazy journalism.

The proof will come on the field.
If Howard cannot overtake Mason for #2 during Aaron's absence, that's a problem and we are in trouble.
Howard has a new staff and one that seems open to him and he must come out of the gate at his best.
He gets a little shot this week which benefits the Steelers too.
Mike gets a little bit of first-hand look at Howard and hopefully they've marked their draft charts accordingly.
If Howard looks rough and the ceiling looks low, they are going to have to draft a QB. (in my mind, they are not going to use 12 picks.. they will trade maybe back into the 3rd to get a QB.)
That gives them 4 QB's to look at with Mason and Howard fighting for a roster spot. The focus is not Aaron Rogers, as 1 of the 3 backups will likely be making some starts with Rogers starting.
If Rogers doesn't return, you're probably going to have to sign Jimmy G and still draft a QB and pick the best 1 from the 4.
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Do you really believe that the team doesn’t know his plans?

Mr.wizard · Apr 21, 2026 at 5:36 PM

Tweezer said: ↑

Ya...this whole waiting stuff is all on the media. Steelers aren't being held hostage, they are going about their business regardless of Aaron's decision. And the media thinking they have the same information as the Steelers is laughable. Smoke and mirrors!

Never wanted them to sign any of these other FA QB's anyways.
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This is exactly right, for all we know the Steelers already know if Rodgers is coming back. He may not publicly announce it for awhile so he has an excuse to skip alot of the workout stuff without being called a bad teammate, but I fully believe the Steelers know and that he is coming back.

jeh1856 · Apr 21, 2026 at 5:38 PM

Mr.wizard said: ↑

This is exactly right, for all we know the Steelers already know if Rodgers is coming back. He may not publicly announce it for awhile so he has an excuse to skip alot of the workout stuff without being called a bad teammate, but I fully believe the Steelers know and that he is coming back.
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Just like last year

jeh1856 · Apr 21, 2026 at 5:39 PM

S.T.D said: ↑

Funny many on here told me , and others that whole Rodgers thing was a Tomlin thing. I guess he's still running the show even though he left. A whole bunch of You are going to realize a bunch of what you thought was Tomlin wasn't.
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I’m having a hard time making sense out of this

jeh1856 · Apr 21, 2026 at 8:59 PM

Blast Furnace said: ↑

Im not advocating for Rudolph to start, I just notice that he never comes up in conversation when talking about the QB room, whether it be McCarthy or beat writers or whoever. He’s the forgotten man.

Personally I think he will be cut before the season.
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Hey McCarthy acknowledged he’s heard of Mason

https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/48552762/steelers-giving-rodgers-space-mull-future-draft-looms

steelersrule6 · Apr 21, 2026 at 9:05 PM

Brice said: ↑

Mike McCarthy just said today they have been splitting reps between the QBs for the last 2 days.

Who is your source that is reporting Will Howard as getting all the first team reps?
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That QB1 for now isn't that big of a deal one reporter said they aren't even doing much it's like a walk through.

Steelvision · Apr 21, 2026 at 9:20 PM

Brice said: ↑

Cooper Rush was just released by the Ravens last month. Rush would already know McCarthy's playbook backward and forward.

Is Cooper Rush and Improvement over Mason???
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McCarthy may think so

Steelpens65 · Apr 21, 2026 at 9:24 PM

jeh1856 said: ↑

The word of the day is “mentor”
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In Arots case add
Tor
To the front

Steelpens65 · Apr 21, 2026 at 9:28 PM

Btw
Didn’t Arot just want to play for Tomlin?
Kudos to Arot for running off another HC
He got Fat Mike ran off in Green Bay
Why would Fat Mike want Arot back?

jeh1856 · Apr 21, 2026 at 9:31 PM

Hanratty#5 said: ↑

Yep just heard on 93.7 the Fan that Tom Pelissaro also reporting that in the absence of Rodgers that Will Howard is the starting QB.
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McCarthy said Mason and Will are splitting reps

Tiggs99 · Apr 21, 2026 at 9:59 PM

It’s in McCarthy’s interest to go with untested rookies and/or Mason. If Steelers do well, he gets all the credit. If they don’t, he has a readymade excuse. If they get old Rodgers , or any veteran and Steelers **** the bed and actually have a losing season, the heat is on him. This after Tomlin’s streak of non losing seasons. Personally, I want to see new Qb’s rather than go 9-8 or so with a Flacco or Rodgers.

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Will Howard QB1 for now?

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