It’s no surprise that QB Aaron Rodgers is the Pittsburgh Steelers’ No. 1 quarterback with OTAs underway. But what is a little bit surprising is that QB Will Howard is the No. 2 option, with Mason Rudolph serving as the No. 3 quarterback and Drew Allar the No. 4 with the voluntary practices beginning on Monday.

ESPN’s Brooke Pryor posted the depth chart on Twitter.

After Aaron Rodgers took first team reps, Will Howard was QB2. Mason Rudolph was QB3, and Drew Allar was QB4.

— Brooke Pryor (@bepryor) May 18, 2026

It’s still very early and nothing is set in stone. But if the Steelers view Howard as their QB2, then it spells bad news for Rudolph’s future in Pittsburgh. The Steelers will likely carry four quarterbacks into training camp as they always do, but Rudolph could be the odd man out when the team sets its 53-man roster.

While he’s a veteran who has started for the Steelers and a player the team is familiar with, the organization has spoken highly of Howard this offseason. It might be risky entering the season with two players behind Rodgers who don’t have any NFL game experience in Howard and Allar, but right now it seems that’s what the team might be poised to do.

Howard will have to play well to keep his spot as the No. 2, and his inclusion as the backup quarterback today might just be about trying to get him as many reps as possible. Howard is a younger quarterback who needs more on-field work to develop than Rudolph does, and his placement on the depth chart today might not signify that he is truly the No. 2.

The quarterback depth chart behind Rodgers will be worth monitoring throughout OTAs and training camp. The Steelers are trying to develop Howard and Allar, and it will be very notable if Howard continues as the No. 2.

McCarthy is a believer in Howard, and it wouldn’t be a major surprise if he’s comfortable rolling with him if Rodgers gets injured. Again, Howard is going to have to prove he belongs as the No. 2 throughout the offseason, but right now, that’s where the team expects him to be in Year 2.

Long term, it’ll benefit Howard to get increased of reps and have another season working with Aaron Rodgers. If the Steelers currently views him as their No. 2 quarterback, there’s a chance they could view him as their future starter with Rodgers only on a one-year deal.

There’s been a lot of hype around Howard this offseason, and now is the chance for him to back it up and earn an elevated role on the depth chart.