Will Howard to Start vs. Jets as Steelers Bench Aaron Rodgers for Preseason

Second-year quarterback Will Howard will start Friday against the Jets while Drew Allar follows in the rotation.

PITTSBURGH -- Head coach Mike McCarthy announced Wednesday that second-year quarterback Will Howard will start for the Pittsburgh Steelers against the New York Jets this Friday. The 2026 fourth-round draft pick Drew Allar is scheduled to follow Howard in the rotation for the team's second preseason contest. Veterans Aaron Rodgers and Mason Rudolph are officially ruled out of the lineup for the matchup.

During the Steelers' first preseason game against the Green Bay Packers, Rudolph started and completed 10 of 11 passes for 93 yards. He played 19 total snaps and was sacked twice. Howard entered the game in the second quarter to replace Rudolph, successfully leading a two-minute scoring drive immediately preceding the halftime whistle. Howard finished that appearance with 7 completions on 9 attempts for 86 yards.

Drew Allar’s Three-Touchdown Performance

Drew Allar took over the offense in the second half of the opener, producing three total touchdowns. His statistical line included 10 completions on 13 attempts for 153 yards. Allar recorded two passing scores and added one rushing touchdown to his tally. McCarthy noted that the decision to prioritize Howard and Allar stems from a desire to maximize opportunities for the younger signal-callers, as Howard did not play during his rookie season.

McCarthy emphasized the importance of preseason reps for young players to master play entry and line of scrimmage commands. The coach wants to observe how they react to broken plays, such as incorrect routes or errors by the right tackle. He stated that he wants to see them maintain proactive reasoning when facing trouble on the field rather than being surprised by mistakes.

Mason Rudolph’s Preseason Status

Rudolph is currently in his seventh NFL season after being selected by Pittsburgh in the third round of the 2018 draft. Despite his absence this Friday, McCarthy praised the veteran for his performance during the spring and his command of the offense last week. The coach described Rudolph as a strong personality in the locker room who has adapted well to various offensive systems and specific coaching requirements for the position.

McCarthy explained that he has already seen what he needed to see from Rudolph in the first exhibition game. By resting the veterans, the coaching staff intends to evaluate the younger quarterbacks as much as possible over the remaining two games of the preseason schedule. The team has maintained this evaluation approach throughout the duration of training camp.

Quarterback Development and Game Strategy

The Steelers' offensive strategy for Friday focuses on the development of Howard and Allar under live game conditions. McCarthy highlighted that preseason football is beneficial for seeing if a quarterback can handle the pure on-field duties of a starter. Howard will handle the opening duties against the Jets' defense before Allar assumes control of the huddle to finish the game. The coaching staff is looking for consistency following Allar's 153-yard performance and Howard's efficient 77.7% completion rate from the previous week.