Will Howard, Drew Allar Make Preseason Debuts for Steelers

The Pittsburgh Steelers will unveil their future at quarterback when rookies Drew Allar and Will Howard make their preseason debuts on August 13 against the Green Bay Packers at Acrisure Stadium. The moment represents a pivotal milestone for a franchise seeking Aaron Rodgers’ long-term successor and echoes the transformative quarterback decisions that defined the organization 22 years ago when Ben Roethlisberger arrived. General Manager Omar Khan invested a third-round selection in Allar, the Penn State product whose physical tools have impressed scouts, while Howard joined the team as a sixth-round pick following his national championship run with Ohio State two years ago.

Steelers fans have already begun dividing into camps, with some favoring Allar’s raw athletic traits and others embracing Howard’s proven championship pedigree. Both groups share a unified hope that one of these young signal-callers can develop into the franchise’s next long-term starter when the 2027 season arrives. The preseason opener will provide the first real glimpse of how each quarterback translates training camp performance into game action, launching narratives that will follow both players throughout their rookie campaigns and beyond.

McCarthy Emphasizes Fundamentals and Finish

First-year head coach Mike McCarthy outlined his evaluation priorities for the rookie quarterbacks during an August 11 media session at Saint Vincent College in Latrobe, Pennsylvania, where the team conducts training camp. McCarthy wants to assess how the young players connect with teammates, emphasizing pre-snap operations and situational awareness as foundational elements. The veteran coach places particular weight on how plays finish rather than simply how they begin, believing that a player’s ability to complete sequences under pressure reveals more about their potential than isolated flashes of brilliance.

“I just want to see these young guys play. I want to see how they play connected to each other. The pre-snap of the operation, understanding what’s in front of them. But the finish. That’s what these games are for. How these guys are finishing plays, what goes on at the end of the play. And that leads to production. So play style and production are the two blinking lights that I put the most emphasis on,” McCarthy told reporters.

The coach’s evaluation framework suggests that raw statistics will matter less than decision-making quality and operational consistency when determining which rookie earns greater developmental opportunities throughout the preseason. Both Howard and Allar have reportedly handled their training camp responsibilities without major concerns, though the live-game environment will present a dramatically different test than controlled practice scenarios.

Roster Mathematics Create Different Pressures

The preseason carries vastly different stakes for each quarterback due to basic roster mathematics and draft capital investment. Allar’s status appears relatively secure because organizations rarely cut Day 2 draft picks immediately after selection unless catastrophic performance issues emerge, and no such concerns have surfaced from Latrobe. Howard faces a more precarious path to the 53-man roster, where Rodgers commands the starting job and Allar occupies another guaranteed spot.

The competition for Pittsburgh’s final quarterback position pits Howard against Mason Rudolph, a veteran who joined the organization as a third-round pick in 2018 but has delivered mixed results across multiple opportunities. Rudolph’s strongest moment came during a three-game stretch late in the 2023 season when he helped lift the Steelers into playoff contention, demonstrating the baseline competence expected from backup quarterbacks. His track record of keeping the team competitive when starters go down represents the minimum standard Howard must match to justify roster inclusion over a known commodity.

Championship Experience Versus Physical Tools

The contrasting profiles of the two rookies reflect different philosophies about quarterback evaluation and development. Howard brings championship credentials from his time leading Ohio State to a national title, providing evidence of his ability to perform under maximum pressure in high-stakes environments. His experience managing a major program’s offense and delivering in crucial moments appeals to evaluators who prioritize mental toughness and winning pedigree over measurable physical attributes.

Allar represents the alternative approach, selected based on exceptional physical traits and developmental upside that suggest he could grow into an elite starter with proper coaching and repetitions. The Penn State prospect’s arm strength, mobility, and overall athletic profile impressed Pittsburgh’s decision-makers enough to invest premium draft capital, betting that his raw tools will translate into polished performance as he matures within an NFL system. Khan’s willingness to use a third-round selection signals organizational confidence that Allar’s ceiling justifies the patience required to reach it.

Preseason Veteran Brandon Allen Sets Production Standard

While the Steelers prepare to evaluate their rookie quarterbacks, another NFL backup continues building an unusual legacy in preseason competition. The New York Giants‘ Brandon Allen has compiled 2,579 preseason passing yards over his nine-year career, making him the most productive quarterback in NFL preseason games during the last decade according to Pro Football Focus. The 33-year-old veteran has thrown 385 passes across preseason stints with five different franchises, completing 242 attempts for nine touchdowns and 16 interceptions.

Allen’s preseason success stems from his role as an experienced backup who absorbs most late-game snaps after starters exit following limited appearances. His 72.9 passer rating in preseason action would represent concerning regular-season production but reflects the reality of performing with reserve units against similarly situated opponents. The Giants signed Allen to a one-year, $1.45 million contract this offseason, placing him behind Jaxson Dart and Jameis Winston on the depth chart with minimal chances of making the final roster unless the organization keeps three quarterbacks.

Long-Term Implications for Pittsburgh

The August 13 debuts represent just the opening chapter in what the Steelers hope becomes a multi-year development story culminating in franchise quarterback stability. Neither rookie will likely see significant regular-season action in 2026 with Rodgers healthy and commanding the starting role, but their preseason performances will shape coaching staff confidence and developmental timelines heading into future campaigns. Howard must prove he deserves roster inclusion over established veterans, while Allar needs to justify the organization’s draft investment by showing accelerated growth and professional maturity.

McCarthy’s emphasis on play completion and teammate connection suggests Pittsburgh will prioritize operational reliability over spectacular individual plays when evaluating both rookies throughout the preseason schedule. The franchise’s history of successful quarterback development, from Roethlisberger through the Rodgers acquisition, creates expectations that one of these young players can eventually lead the offense through another sustained winning era. Their debuts against Green Bay begin the evaluation process that will determine whether either fulfills that ambitious organizational vision.