Steelers retain two rookie quarterbacks despite preseason loss
The Pittsburgh Steelers will keep quarterbacks Drew Allar and Will Howard on the roster after a preseason defeat, while the status of backup Mason Rudolph remains uncertain.
The Steelers announced they will retain both rookie quarterbacks Drew Allar and Will Howard beyond the upcoming 53-man roster deadline, a decision that was made before Friday's preseason game against the New York Jets. Neither player produced a scoring drive in the half they played, with Howard throwing two interceptions and Allar being sacked three times.
"I saw what I needed to see from Mason last week," Steelers head coach Mike McCarthy said before the game, explaining why backup Mason Rudolph did not participate.
Allar, a third-round pick in the 2026 draft, and Howard, a sixth-round selection in 2025 who missed part of the preseason with a hand injury, remain on the roster as the team looks toward the eventual retirement of starter Aaron Rodgers after the 2026 season. The future of Rudolph, who is set to become an unrestricted free agent in 2027, may involve a trade if the coaching staff feels comfortable with either rookie as the backup.