Steelers QB Suffers Major Injury Setback at Training Camp

Aaron Rodgers is the most important quarterback at Pittsburgh Steelers training camp in 2025, but most fans were likely curious to see what rookie Will Howard could do during the preseason before his recent hand injury.

Unfortunately, that injury — which was reported as a minor one at first — has turned into a massive setback for the first-year signal-caller.

On the evening of August 5, NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport provided a disappointing update on Howard’s injury, reporting: “Steelers rookie QB Will Howard, who banged his throwing hand in practice, suffered a fractured small bone in his hand, sources say.”

“He’s having additional tests, but it’s likely no surgery is required,” Rapoport continued. Adding: “He’s expected to miss at least 3 weeks, but more info coming.”

After this news, veteran Steelers beat reporter Mark Kaboly spoke for the entire fanbase, relaying the following reaction: “Originally it was believed that Will Howard was fine. Now out a month. Don’t think [the Steelers] were anticipating that.”

Nor was anyone around the Pittsburgh community.

Will Howard Will Likely Miss Every 2025 Preseason Outing If Injury Reports Are Accurate

If there was one quarterback on the Steelers roster who really needed to play during the 2025 preseason, it was Howard. Pittsburgh only committed a sixth-round pick on the Ohio State QB, so a spot on the 53-man roster is not guaranteed.

On top of that, Howard is auditioning for 2026, as much as 2025, as the Steelers begin to form a loose plan for after Aaron Rodgers’ expected retirement.

The wide belief is that Pittsburgh has loaded up enough draft capital to either trade up for or draft a quarterback in round one next April. Needless to say, that would not be good news for Howard, who would quickly become an afterthought in that scenario.

If Howard had shown some real promise and potential during the preseason, perhaps the Steelers might have reshaped their 2026 plans around some combination of him and Mason Rudolph. Now, there is very little chance that general manager Omar Khan and head coach Mike Tomlin put the future of the franchise in the hands of an inexperienced youngster who has never even appeared in a preseason outing, let alone a regular season game.

And if Howard misses all three preseason opportunities as this report suggests he will, his only real shot at getting in a game after that will be injuries to both Rodgers and Rudolph — assuming he makes the team.

Howard’s odds of becoming the Steelers’ franchise quarterback felt like a long shot before this injury. Now, the words to describe it might be “pipe dream.”

New Opportunity Emerges for Skylar Thompson at Steelers Training Camp

If Howard is sidelined for the rest of training camp and the preseason, it’ll be interesting to see if the front office brings in another quarterback. For now, a huge opportunity has just emerged for fourth-stringer Skylar Thompson.

Due to his age, Rodgers probably won’t play too much during the preseason, and the Steelers have seen what Rudolph can do. Before Tuesday, that would have meant extra reps for Howard and Thompson, but now it’s just the latter that remains.

Pittsburgh’s first preseason game is rapidly approaching on Saturday, August 9. If Howard is ruled out and Rodgers sits, the assumption would be that Rudolph and Thompson split the QB snaps between the two of them.

That creates a critical scenario for Thompson, as he attempts to win the QB3 role and a place on the 53-man roster.