Pittsburgh Steelers training camp 2026 begins in just a few weeks, and one of the biggest storylines for the organization is who will be the third quarterback on the roster: veteran Mason Rudolph, who could be traded, or former Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback Will Howard.
Some believe Rudolph gives the Steelers the best chance to win now, while others believe the focus should be more on the long-term and favor Howard. Those who want to see more from the second-year quarterback may be getting the news they’re looking for with this latest update.
Steelers Training Camp 2026: Fans Get Positive Will Howard Update
Will Howard’s Path to the Roster Not as Complicated as Expected
Players report to Saint Vincent College in just over three weeks, and Steelers insider Mike DeFabo believes the path for Howard to make the roster is very clear.
“Perhaps no player has been the subject of such a wide range of roster projections,” DeFabo wrote for The Athletic on Thursday. “At one point in the offseason, it wasn’t unreasonable to wonder if he could have a shot to compete for the QB1 job. Now, some are asking if the Steelers could keep Mason Rudolph and bump Howard off the 53-man roster. My thought is Howard doesn’t have to necessarily beat out Rudolph as much as prove he can be a steady QB2 worth developing.”
For those who are big supporters of Howard, this is the best-case scenario for the second-year quarterback heading into Steelers training camp 2026.
This is also very positive news for Howard, as well. While every player wants to be their best every time they take the field, that doesn’t always happen, simply due to human error. However, DeFabo is making the case that Howard doesn’t necessarily have to be better than Rudolph.
Steelers Training Camp 2026: Will Howard’s Path to a Roster Spot Relies on Progress
Howard’s ability to make the roster simply comes down to whether he is a viable option for the Steelers next season. Head coach Mike McCarthy, who has high expectations for Year 1, won’t even consider using rookie quarterback Drew Allar unless absolutely necessary. For Howard, though, it’s all about progress.
It doesn’t have to be perfect for Howard as he gets ready for his sophomore season in professional football. What exactly Pittsburgh will consider a “steady QB2 worth developing” remains to be seen ahead of Steelers training camp 2026. However, Aaron Rodgers has been very complimentary of Howard.
“From an intelligence standpoint and processing the presnap stuff, I think he’s gonna be great at that,” Rodgers told PennLive reporter Nick Farabaugh in May. “He was my right-hand man with all the signals this year, and he was phenomenal at it. He sat next to me every meeting. He was sitting next to me in the quarterback room, he was sitting next to me in the big room when we went offense, and I loved it.”
While Rodgers hasn’t explicitly said anything poorly about Rudolph, the relationship between the future Hall of Fame quarterback and Howard is something to keep an eye on.
Steelers Training Camp 2026: The Pressure Now Shifts to Mason Rudolph
Many Steelers reporters and fans alike believe the organization should keep Rudolph around as a veteran backup to Rodgers, since neither Howard nor Allar has any NFL snaps under their belt. Under previous head coach Mike Tomlin, that may have been the case. However, McCarthy seems to be taking a different approach.
As a result, the pressure now shifts to Rudolph to perform in training camp and the preseason. He has to prove to the organization that his NFL experience and veteran wisdom are worthwhile to keep on the team, or at least for the remainder of his current contract.
One thing is certain: Steelers training camp 2026 will have plenty to watch when practice begins on July 29.
Main Photo Courtesy of Charles LeClaire – Imagn Images
