With training camp nearing, the Pittsburgh Steelers will have some tough decisions to make. Although the starting quarterback is solidified, one of Pittsburgh’s biggest battles is between Will Howard and Mason Rudolph for the backup quarterback role. The Steelers seem to be giving Howard every chance to win this battle. But Steelers beat writer Mark Kaboly is a little more skeptical.
“For the record, I would keep all four quarterbacks,” Kaboly wrote in his 53-man roster projection, posted Tuesday. “Regardless of what happens in the preseason, Rudolph and Allar slot in at QB2 and QB3, with Howard the odd man out. Trying to stash Howard on the practice squad might not be that daunting, considering he was a sixth-round pick with no reps to speak of as a rookie.”
Still without their quarterback of the future, there are many reasons the Steelers might prefer to keep Howard over Rudolph. But Rudolph could arguably be considered a better backup quarterback. If the Steelers are still in contention and Rodgers goes down with an injury, Rudolph figures to be a calmer presence in that kind of role.
So far, Howard is getting the bulk of the reps. That will likely be the case in Latrobe in late July as well. The Steelers know who Rudolph is at this point, but Howard has significantly more questions. If Howard plays well during camp and the preseason, the backup job is likely his. If he doesn’t, that opens the door for Rudolph.
Whether the Steelers stash Howard on the practice squad depends on his preseason performance. If he disappoints, he might be safe considering he was a sixth-round pick, after all. But if he has some nice moments and the Steelers still choose Rudolph, another team may poach him.
Howard wasn’t the only youngster Kaboly thought might miss the 53-man roster. He also left off Eli Heidenreich, Gabriel Rubio, and Robert Spears-Jennings.
“Heidenreich is a local favorite but has a huge hill to climb to make the 53-man,” Kaboly wrote.
There may be too much depth ahead of them. Kaden Wetjen could take a gadget role from Heidenreich. And the Steelers have depth at running back with Kaleb Johnson and Riley Nowakowski potentially spending time in the backfield. Kaboly picked Logan Lee and Esezi Otomewo to make the roster over Rubio. And while he only took three safeties aside from Jalen Ramsey, he picked Sebastian Castro over Spears-Jennings.
Having plenty of depth certainly isn’t bad. But that makes it tough for all the Steelers’ youth to make the 53-man roster. Kaboly thinks these four specifically are in danger of not making the cut.