Drew Allar and Will Howard Impress as Steelers Rookies Look ‘Very Poised’ in Preseason Win
Drew Allar and Will Howard Impress as Steelers Rookies Look ‘Very Poised’ in Preseason Win
The Pittsburgh Steelers opened their 2026 preseason with an encouraging 28-9 victory over the Green Bay Packers, but the result was only part of the story. The performances of rookie quarterbacks Drew Allar and Will Howard provided one of the biggest reasons for optimism as both young signal-callers showed poise and confidence in their first meaningful NFL action.
Allar, selected by Pittsburgh in the third round of the 2026 NFL Draft, received the most attention after producing an impressive performance in his professional debut. The former Penn State quarterback completed 10 of 13 passes for 153 yards and two touchdowns while also rushing for a score.
Howard, meanwhile, completed seven of nine attempts for 86 yards and led an impressive 80-yard touchdown drive during his time on the field.
The performances earned praise from first-year Steelers head coach Mike McCarthy, who has spent much of training camp working closely with his quarterbacks.
McCarthy described the young quarterbacks as “very poised” and said both players demonstrated a strong understanding of the offense.
For Pittsburgh, the performances offered an early glimpse at what could become an intriguing quarterback situation in the years ahead.
Veteran Aaron Rodgers remains the expected starter for the regular season, provided he is healthy and available. Mason Rudolph is also competing for a place on the depth chart, meaning Allar and Howard still have plenty of work to do before their roles are determined.
Nevertheless, their preseason opener provided evidence that the Steelers have promising young talent behind Rodgers.
Allar’s performance was particularly noteworthy because he had not played in an actual football game for an extended period before Thursday night. His college career at Penn State ended prematurely in 2025 after he suffered a season-ending injury.
The Steelers nevertheless believed strongly enough in his potential to select him with the 76th overall pick.
That investment began to look promising against Green Bay.
Allar entered the game in the third quarter and immediately showed the arm strength and athleticism that had made him one of the highly regarded quarterback prospects earlier in his college career.
His first completion went for 74 yards, setting the tone for a memorable debut. He later added two touchdown passes and scored a rushing touchdown, giving Pittsburgh’s offense a major spark.
Rather than appearing overwhelmed by the speed of professional football, Allar looked comfortable directing the offense.
He also said afterward that he was more focused on communicating the play calls clearly than listening to the crowd’s reaction to his entrance.
That focus appeared to translate onto the field.
Howard had already provided a strong performance before Allar entered.
The Ohio State product completed seven of nine passes and directed a long touchdown drive, showing accuracy and composure in his first NFL preseason appearance.
Howard’s journey to Pittsburgh has also been unusual.
He spent the early part of his college career at Kansas State before transferring to Ohio State, where he helped lead the Buckeyes to a national championship. Pittsburgh selected him in the sixth round of the 2025 NFL Draft.
An injury prevented Howard from appearing in the Steelers’ preseason games as a rookie, making Thursday’s game his first opportunity to play in an NFL exhibition contest.
The long wait did not appear to affect his confidence.
Howard operated McCarthy’s offense efficiently and avoided major mistakes, strengthening his case for a roster position.
McCarthy has emphasized detailed quarterback development since arriving in Pittsburgh, and the performances of Allar and Howard suggest that approach is already producing encouraging results.
The Steelers’ offense was not perfect, particularly along the offensive line, but the quarterbacks made enough plays to keep the unit moving.
The defense also played an important role in the victory.
Pittsburgh held Green Bay without a touchdown and recorded four sacks, allowing the Steelers’ offense time to recover after the Packers opened the game with a 9-0 advantage.
The Steelers eventually scored 28 unanswered points.
The victory therefore gave McCarthy an impressive start to his tenure on the sideline, although preseason results should be viewed with caution.
The more important takeaway for Pittsburgh was how individual players performed within the new system.
For Allar and Howard, the opportunity was especially significant.
Both quarterbacks entered the preseason with questions surrounding their readiness for professional football. Both responded by showing that they can operate the Steelers’ offense with confidence.
Allar’s three-touchdown performance will naturally attract the most attention, but the coaching staff is unlikely to make decisions based on one game.
The rookie still has to demonstrate consistency throughout training camp and the remaining preseason contests.
Howard faces a similar challenge.
His strong outing gives him momentum, but the Steelers still have to evaluate the entire quarterback room before finalizing the depth chart.
The presence of Rodgers makes the situation particularly interesting.
The veteran quarterback did not play against Green Bay, leaving the younger quarterbacks with an opportunity to take center stage.
Rodgers’ experience and résumé make him the clear favorite to lead the team if he is healthy, but Pittsburgh’s young quarterbacks are giving the coaching staff plenty to be excited about for the future.
The Steelers’ decision to draft Allar also suggests that the organization is thinking beyond the immediate season.
At just 22 years old, Allar has considerable time to develop under an experienced coaching staff. His physical tools and athletic ability could eventually make him an important part of Pittsburgh’s long-term plans.
Howard, meanwhile, offers another intriguing option.
His championship experience at Ohio State and previous starting experience at Kansas State give him a different background from Allar.
That competition could benefit the Steelers as the organization evaluates its quarterback depth.
For now, both players can celebrate successful first appearances.
Allar demonstrated big-play ability, accuracy and athleticism, while Howard showed efficiency and composure.
Their performances also provided a glimpse of the quarterback development that McCarthy hopes to establish in Pittsburgh.
The Steelers will have plenty to correct before the regular season begins, but the emergence of their young quarterbacks is an encouraging development.
Preseason games do not determine a team’s eventual success, but they provide valuable opportunities for players fighting for roster positions and future roles.
Allar and Howard took advantage of that opportunity against Green Bay.
As the Steelers continue through the preseason, the competition between their young quarterbacks will be one of the storylines worth following.
For Allar, the immediate objective is to build on his spectacular debut and prove that he can consistently execute at the NFL level.
For Howard, the goal is to show that his poise and accuracy can translate into a reliable role on the roster.
Both have now made their first impressions.
And after the Steelers’ convincing 28-9 victory, those impressions were considerably more positive than many expected.
The road to the regular season is still long, but Drew Allar and Will Howard have given Pittsburgh fans an early reason to be optimistic about the future of the quarterback position.
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