- Joined
- May 8, 2002
- Posts
- 1,269,312
- Reaction score
- 59
After sitting out his entire rookie campaign, Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Will Howard is finally preparing to hit an NFL field for live game action. Ahead of Thursday night’s preseason opener against the Green Bay Packers, the 2025 sixth-round pick expressed raw excitement about stepping back under center after an extended layoff.
Reporting from Steelers training camp in Latrobe, beat writer Nick Farabaugh shared the second-year passer's enthusiastic perspective on social media.
Farabaugh posted on X, "Will Howard says he's 'so fired up' and 'champing at the bit' to play an NFL game for the first time in his career. 'Sometimes you can't help but look forward a little bit and start to get excited, just to get out there in live game reps. I haven't played in over a year.'"
Howard’s last game experience dates back to his collegiate finale with Ohio State, as he did not record any exhibition or regular-season snaps during his first year in Pittsburgh. With veteran Aaron Rodgers expected to see minimal preseason work and backup Mason Rudolph firmly established, Howard is slated to handle significant snaps throughout August alongside third-round rookie Drew Allar.
The upcoming exhibition games carry massive weight for Howard’s long-term standing on the roster. Head coach Mike McCarthy is overseeing a crowded, four-quarterback room, making every live snap vital as Howard works to prove his growth in a new offensive scheme. Navigating real-time pass rushes and executing under stadium lights will give the coaching staff its clearest look yet at his developmental ceiling.
For Howard, Thursday’s game represents far more than a routine preseason outing. It is his first tangible opportunity to translate a year’s worth of practice reps into game-day production, reignite his competitive rhythm, and stake his claim in Pittsburgh's evolving quarterback room.
This article originally appeared on Steelers Wire: Steelers QB Will Howard 'champing at the bit' for preseason action
Continue reading...
Reporting from Steelers training camp in Latrobe, beat writer Nick Farabaugh shared the second-year passer's enthusiastic perspective on social media.
Farabaugh posted on X, "Will Howard says he's 'so fired up' and 'champing at the bit' to play an NFL game for the first time in his career. 'Sometimes you can't help but look forward a little bit and start to get excited, just to get out there in live game reps. I haven't played in over a year.'"
Howard’s last game experience dates back to his collegiate finale with Ohio State, as he did not record any exhibition or regular-season snaps during his first year in Pittsburgh. With veteran Aaron Rodgers expected to see minimal preseason work and backup Mason Rudolph firmly established, Howard is slated to handle significant snaps throughout August alongside third-round rookie Drew Allar.
The upcoming exhibition games carry massive weight for Howard’s long-term standing on the roster. Head coach Mike McCarthy is overseeing a crowded, four-quarterback room, making every live snap vital as Howard works to prove his growth in a new offensive scheme. Navigating real-time pass rushes and executing under stadium lights will give the coaching staff its clearest look yet at his developmental ceiling.
For Howard, Thursday’s game represents far more than a routine preseason outing. It is his first tangible opportunity to translate a year’s worth of practice reps into game-day production, reignite his competitive rhythm, and stake his claim in Pittsburgh's evolving quarterback room.
This article originally appeared on Steelers Wire: Steelers QB Will Howard 'champing at the bit' for preseason action
Continue reading...
