Steelers keep 4 QBs on 53-man roster

Rodgers averaged just 5.5 yards per completion and didn’t complete a single pass over 20 yards downfield, going 0-for-6. He was also just 4-for-14 for 64 yards when he was under pressure. That being said, he also didn’t make many bad decisions and threw a couple of beautiful passes in tight windows over the middle of the field. It’s a new season, but this doesn’t really feel much like a new Steelers’ offense, which means the ceiling might be low when it comes to fantasy production. Rodgers remains just a QB2 option next week against the Patriots.

It was trending this way after Porter Jr. missed all of training camp with a back injury; however, the Steelers had held out hope that the 26-year-old would be able to return to the field for Week 1. Unfortunately, it sounds like the issue preventing him from being on the field may be more about a new contract than his back. The Steelers will likely turn to Asante Samuel Jr. to take Porter Jr.'s role, and it might matter more if the Falcons weren’t starting Cooper Rush at quarterback. The Steelers’ other inactives are QB Drew Allar, QB Will Howard, OG Gennings Dunker, DL Kevin Jobity Jr., and DL Gabriel Rubio.

The only QB who truly felt like he was on the roster bubble this offseason was Will Howard. The former sixth-round pick immediately found himself in competition for a roster spot after the Steelers used the No. 76 pick in this year’s draft to select Penn State’s Drew Allar, but it would appear that Howard’s spot on the roster is safe for now. Speaking after the team’s preseason finale against the Bills, McCarthy said that he feels good about the team’s quarterback room and suggested that we can expect both players, along with Aaron Rodgers and Mason Rudolph, to all be on the roster after cutdown day. Howard threw for 229 yards, two touchdowns, and three interceptions this preseason, while Allar threw for 351-2-0 but completed just 55.6 percent of his passes. We wouldn’t expect either QB to see the field in the regular season.

Allar struggled more in his second taste of preseason action, taking three sacks while completing only 47.8 percent of his passes, but were it not for three dropped passes and some garbage-time heaves on the game’s final drive, his box score would have looked a little better. Allar’s most impressive throw came on his second drive of the game, when he evaded pressure and ran left to throw a 38-yard ball down the sideline that was placed neatly between two defenders to receiver Lake McRee for a big gain. In the fourth quarter, he would connect with Isaiah Winstead on a 17-yard gain, again on a tight pass near the sideline for his second-longest completion of the night. Allar fared better than second-year QB Will Howard, who completed 10-of-15 passes for 74 yards but was picked off twice in the first half. We would expect both quarterbacks to get extended opportunities in next week’s preseason finale against the Bills on Thursday. According to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s Gerry Dulac, the Steelers are planning on keeping both Howard and Allar on the roster, but Mason Rudolph will serve as the team’s QB2 behind Aaron Rodgers.

The controversial third-round pick is battling veteran Mason Rudolph and sophomore Will Howard for backup duties behind Aaron Rodgers. All three signal callers had strong outings against the Packers’ reserves on Thursday. A former massive recruit whose Penn State career did not go as planned, Allar has youth (22) and raw physical talent on his side as he looks to develop under Mike McCarthy. There is very little chance he would be ready for prime time if forced into 2026 action.

Rodgers may not play at all, and reports indicate that he, personally, could go either way on the matter. Steelers coach Mike McCarthy plans to play quarterbacks in three groups. The first two will split first-half reps, while the third plays for the entire second half. Shortly after this report, during pre-game warmups, Pryor said that “all signs are pointing to Rodgers being on the bench tonight.”

Rodgers didn’t take a preseason snap for the Steelers last season, but it sounds like the 42-year-old vet will be on the field for each of the Steelers’ first two preseason games this year. Interestingly, they are against the Packers and Jets. Speaking with The Athletic’s Michael Silver, Rodgers didn’t seem particularly excited about taking preseason snaps, but said, “If (McCarthy) wants me to, I will.”

This deal comes just as the Steelers are gearing up to begin training camp. Allar was selected with the No. 76 pick in this year’s draft and, if all goes to plan for the Steelers in their first year under Mike McCarthy, is expected to redshirt his rookie season. The Penn State product who threw for 7,402-61-13 in his career will spend plenty of time developing behind the scenes with his sights set on possibly earning the QB1 job for the Steelers next season. Allar has reportedly already undergone some serious overhauling, as it was reported in May that the team was “uninstalling everything” he learned about the position at Penn State. It sounds like Allar has a ways to go before being NFL ready, but it will be interesting to hear how he progresses throughout training camp and he’ll be a player to watch when the preseason starts up.

Oh, is that all? Howard and Mason Rudolph appear to be in a roster battle for one spot with third-round pick Drew Allar the likely QB3 behind Aaron Rodgers. DeFabo seems to be saying that Howard has an upper hand in this competition by virtue of not needing to directly compete with what Rudolph is doing in training camp or in preseason action. It’s not exactly great news for Howard that the question needs to be asked in the first place.

McCarthy will coach QB Aaron Rodgers for the first time since 2018, which was McCarthy’s final season with the Packers. Rodgers remained in Green Bay until 2022. McCarthy’s pre-snap shift rates fluctuated significantly over his final three seasons with the Packers and generally hovered around the league average during his 2020-24 run with the Cowboys. Rodgers is reportedly looking forward to returning to the updated version of his old scheme and should have little issue adjusting to McCarthy’s offensive wrinkle. The Steelers’ 63.9 percent pre-snap shift rate ranked 21st last year. Agreeing on terminology appears to be the only real issue that the two are working through, which Rodgers says he will be “stubborn about,” but is a natural part of the growing process.