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Steelers Add Rookie QB Will Howard to 53-Man Roster

8/23/2026

43 3 Full Breakdown

Summary

Story summary

The Pittsburgh Steelers placed rookie quarterback Will Howard on the 53-man roster.
Howard completed 10 of 15 passes for 74 yards and threw two interceptions in the 17-0 loss to New York Jets.
Coach Mike McCarthy said the interceptions were not clean and blamed receiver Roman Wilson.
The Steelers will retain four quarterbacks—Aaron Rodgers, Mason Rudolph, Drew Allar and Howard—despite roster depth trade-offs.

History

Historical Context

The 2004 NFL season featured franchise-changing moments, such as the Philadelphia Eagles’ “4th and 26” playoff win and the Boston Red Sox ending an 86-year World Series drought. Those dramatic shifts highlighted a league-wide focus on rebuilding key positions, especially quarterback, a pattern the Steelers have pursued into 2024 by retaining rookie Will Howard and assessing several QBs.

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Story summary

The Pittsburgh Steelers placed rookie quarterback Will Howard on the 53-man roster.
Howard completed 10 of 15 passes for 74 yards and threw two interceptions in the 17-0 loss to New York Jets.
Coach Mike McCarthy said the interceptions were not clean and blamed receiver Roman Wilson.
The Steelers will retain four quarterbacks—Aaron Rodgers, Mason Rudolph, Drew Allar and Howard—despite roster depth trade-offs.

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