Ben Roethlisberger has Will Howard request for Steelers after signing of Aaron Rodgers

The Pittsburgh Steelers' signing of Aaron Rodgers in June to be their starting quarterback could make rookie Will Howard a largely forgotten figure as it pertains to the upcoming season, since Mason Rudolph is currently on track to serve as Rodgers' primary backup. 

During the latest edition of his "Footbahlin with Ben Roethlisberger" podcast, the Steelers legend offered head coach Mike Tomlin some advice regarding how Pittsburgh should handle its quarterback situation from the start of training camp through the club's final preseason game in August. 

"I would split time with Mason and Will in the preseason," Roethlisberger said, as shared by Joe Clark of Steelers Depot. "I think they'd be playing for the backup job. Whoever is the better one here is my [QB2]. So that would be the smartest move to do in the preseason, to give those guys, let them battle for the No. 2 spot."

The Steelers signed Rudolph to a two-year deal in March before the club took a flier on Howard, a developmental prospect out of Ohio State, in the sixth round of the 2025 draft. Most recently, Rudolph went 1-4 and largely looked like a journeyman across five starts with the Tennessee Titans last season. Meanwhile, Howard spent part of June receiving pointers from Rodgers, a future Hall of Famer who wants to help the 23-year-old "have a chance to be the guy for the next — who knows how long." 

That said, Rodgers dealt with multiple physical setbacks last season before he turned 41 years old in December 2024. Thus, logic suggests Pittsburgh may need either Rudolph or Howard to do more than take some mop-up duty snaps at the end of a game this coming fall. 

"They're probably gonna go draft a quarterback high," Roethlisberger added about Pittsburgh's plans for next offseason, per Troy Montgomery of Steelers Depot. "When they draft a quarterback high, they're most likely not going to put the sixth-rounder in above a high draft pick. ...Will's road is going to be tough here in Pittsburgh, I believe, unless he gets a chance to get out there and he plays well right from the get-go. He's not gonna be able to have hiccups."

The Steelers naming Howard as their Week 1 QB2 would put him in a position where he'd potentially be a play away from experiencing "hiccups" against a live defense in a meaningful game. Tomlin may not embrace such a plan for what became a win-now team as soon as Rodgers put pen to paper on his contract. 

As much as pockets of Steelers fans are curious to find out what Howard is and isn't as a pro, he likely won't see regular-season action during his rookie season unless disaster strikes the Steelers ahead of Christmas.