For rookie quarterbacks in the preseason, the most important goal is to look the part.
Steelers rookie quarterback Drew Allar looked the part on Thursday night against the Packers.
In three second-half drives, Allar engineered three touchdowns. The first covered 80 yards in five plays, culminating in a three-yard touchdown run by the third-round quarterback. The second went 89 yards in 10 plays, with a five-yard touchdown pass to cap it. The third racked up 60 yards in 10 plays, ending with a four-yard touchdown pass.
For the night, Allar completed 10 of 13 passes for 153 yards, two touchdowns, and no interceptions. His passer rating was a near-perfect 154.8.
The other quarterback who was making his NFL preseason debut, 2025 sixth-rounder Will Howard, completed 10 of 11 passes for 93 yards, no touchdowns, and no interceptions.
Unless the Steelers will keep four quarterbacks on the 53-man roster, they’ll have to decide on a quarterback to cut. The better Allar and Howard play, the more likely the odd man out will be veteran Mason Rudolph.
Of course, one of them could be traded. They each finished with passer ratings in excess of 100 in the 2026 preseason debut.