Steelers' Will Howard stuns doctors with never-before-seen injury

The Pittsburgh Steelers selected quarterback Will Howard in the sixth round of the 2025 NFL Draft, viewing the national champion signal-caller as a tremendous value pick late in the event. Despite being a late-round selection, Howard quickly impressed coaches with his poise, arm strength, and football IQ. His early performances in training camp showed promise, and he steadily climbed the depth chart to become the team’s third-string quarterback, positioning himself as a potential contributor down the line.

Howard’s momentum, however, came to an abrupt halt when he suffered a rare injury that forced him to miss significant time during the preseason. The setback was a surprise not just for the Steelers but also for medical staff, who found the nature of his injury unusual and complex. Howard’s absence from practice and preseason action disrupted the rhythm he had been building and delayed his chance to showcase his abilities on the field.

Recently, Howard appeared on the podcast "Downs 2 Business" with Caleb Downs and Josh Downs, where he opened up about the injury and the response it elicited from doctors. He revealed that medical personnel were stunned by the uniqueness of his condition, emphasizing how uncommon it was in professional football. While the injury has slowed his immediate progress, Howard’s candid discussion highlighted his resilience and determination to return stronger, keeping fans hopeful about his potential impact with the Steelers in the future.

"It was an under-center snap, was how it happened," Howard said when speaking to the Downs brothers about his rare injury. "The doctors were like, 'We've never seen anything like this happen.' Snapped it into my hand and jammed my pinky out and it broke this bone right here. It was crazy. Everyone was like, 'I thought you just jammed your finger.' I finished that drill, had a couple plays, then I went to the next drill."

When the play initially happened during training camp, many players and coaches assumed it was just a jammed finger, a painful injury in the moment but one that usually heals in a few minutes and allows you to get back on the field. 

Howard, however, knew something was wrong and decided to get it checked out. That is when he found out he would have to miss time.

"I couldn't even grab the football," Howard said. "I was like, 'Something is messed up, I have to get this checked out.' And I went up, I was like, 'I'll be right back down. I'm just going to get X-rayed, make sure I'm cool.' Went up there, sure enough, it was broken."

Despite the setback, Howard remains fully committed to his recovery and staying mentally sharp for when he returns to the field. 

Steelers have been impressed with rookie QB Will Howard

Sources close to the Steelers indicate that the team has been impressed with his professionalism, as he has been studying the playbook diligently and attending team meetings even while sidelined. Coaches see him as a player with the potential to make an impact in the future, particularly because of his leadership qualities and ability to know how to get better.

Teammates have also praised Howard’s attitude, noting that he has remained positive and engaged despite the frustration of missing valuable preseason reps. While his development will naturally be delayed, the Steelers are optimistic that with proper rehab and support, Howard can continue to climb the depth chart once healthy. 

His work ethic and commitment to improvement have made him a respected presence in the locker room, and fans are eager to see how he bounces back as the regular season approaches. Howard will start the season on the IR, but he can return after four weeks.