Steelers backup QBs lastly prepared for the true video games … kind of

No NFL staff hangs a banner for successful in August when defenses are as vanilla as some frozen custard at Aaron Rodgers’ favourite Latrobe hangout.

But the preseason schedule that begins Thursday generally is a candy deal with or simply bittersweet for the Pittsburgh Steelers quarterbacks not named Rodgers.

“I know everyone says preseason isn’t real football, but to me it is,” second-year professional Will Howard mentioned Monday. “I’m going to treat is as such. I’m going to go out there and make the most of my reps because I know it is important.”

Howard is one in every of 4 quarterbacks vying for a roster spot in a crowded coaching camp at Saint Vincent. The three backups behind Rodgers — Howard, veteran Mason Rudolph and rookie Drew Allar — have shared reps in spring exercises and summer time practices. Coach Mike McCarthy has toyed with preserving all 4 on the 53-man roster, however that’s an uncommon strategy.

If one finally must go, the QB competitors enters an important stretch when the Steelers host the Packers at 7 p.m. Thursday at Acrisure Stadium within the first of three preseason video games. McCarthy hasn’t but mentioned how he’ll divide taking part in time. The different video games are Aug. 21 vs. the Jets and Aug. 27 on the Bills.

“One of the biggest measuring tapes is the preseason reps,” Howard mentioned. “Camp is great. And going against the ones and twos is great. But getting out there in a live setting and a real football game is just different. It is at the college level, and it is at this level. And I still haven’t seen it (in the NFL), so I’m excited to get out there and experience it.”

The first official depth chart for the preseason listed Rodgers first, Rudolph second, Howard third and Allar fourth. There was some hypothesis within the spring that Howard was shifting forward of Rudolph, however that hasn’t materialized to this point this summer time.

Rudolph mentioned he realized early in his nine-year profession to ignore depth-chart speak round coaching camp.

“I remember the headlines back from my rookie year, and Landry Jones and Josh Dobbs and all the talk on who’s going to be the backup,” mentioned Rudolph, remembering again to summer time 2018.

Jones, the incumbent backup to Ben Roethlisberger, received launched that yr. The Steelers as a substitute saved Rudolph, the rookie, and Dobbs, a second-year professional.

“I think you learn quickly … this is the time of year where the depth chart is most talked about,” Rudolph mentioned. “That’s just normal. It comes with the territory. All you can really do is make the most of each of your reps.”

He credited that mindset for getting him by way of earlier QB battles with the Steelers. He pointed to the 2023 season when he was behind Mitch Trubisky and Kenny Pickett on the depth chart.

Rudolph was known as on to start out late within the season and received the staff into the playoffs by successful the ultimate three video games.

“I think I took one pass in the spring of ’23,” Rudolph mentioned. “I used to be pissed off. I used to be down. I used to be like, ‘Golly, I know I’m higher than simply getting one rep.’ But I believe I needed to change my mentality that yr and say, ‘Lord, I’m simply going to take each rep that I get and benefit from it.’ Don’t complain about not getting the reps, and that yr it labored out for me. I prolonged my profession and performed a few of my greatest ball.

“I’ve tried to keep that mindset with me as hard as it can be sometimes. Just do the best with what you’ve been given.”

Howard and Allar are anticipated to make their professional debuts Thursday.

A yr in the past, a hand damage in camp sidelined Howard for the staff’s preseason video games. He was activated from injured record later in his rookie season however hasn’t performed in a recreation since successful the nationwide championship at Ohio State in January 2025.

“I’m so fired up,” Howard mentioned. “I can’t wait for the game. Obviously, I’m trying to take it day by day, and it’s still camp. But sometimes you can’t help but look forward a little bit and start getting excited.”