Steelers coach Mike McCarthy generally has carried only three quarterbacks during training camp. He has four in his first season in Pittsburgh.
It’s a unique situation with starter Aaron Rodgers in his final season, and the Steelers evaluating their future at the position.
Mason Rudolph, Will Howard and rookie Drew Allar are behind Rodgers, and the Steelers could keep all four into the season.
“I don’t know why it wouldn’t be [an option],” coach Mike McCarthy said Tuesday, via Chris Adamski of triblive.com. “I’m not philosophically opposed to keeping the best players.”
Rudolph, the nine-year veteran, will start training camp as the No. 2. That is a change from the offseason when Howard received the second-team reps.
“Aaron will take the ‘ones;’ Mason will start out with the second group; and Will and Drew will take the third-group reps,” McCarthy said. “That’s the way we’ll start.”
Allar is a third-round pick who could be the heir apparent. But the Steelers will have to figure out how to get him enough reps for him to be ready to compete in 2027, while getting Rodgers ready to start his final season and Rudolph or Howard ready to back up Rodgers.
“The responsibility to get the starter ready is not only on the quarterback coach and the play caller, but it’s also on the other quarterbacks,” McCarthy said. “And then the starter’s responsibility is to make sure those other three are connected. We’ve got to move the room along.”
