Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike McCarthy said he liked what he saw from his young quarterbacks after Thursday night’s 28-9 preseason victory over the Green Bay Packers, singling out rookie Drew Allar and second-year pro Will Howard as “very poised.”
- Mike McCarthy praised the poise of rookie Drew Allar and second-year QB Will Howard after a 28-9 preseason win over Green Bay.
- Allar was 10-of-13 for about 153–154 yards with two passing TDs and one rushing TD; Howard completed 7-of-9 for 86 yards and led a two-minute TD drive.
- Aaron Rodgers remains the starter; Pittsburgh must still decide which younger QBs will make the 53-man roster before Aug. 30.
- Preseason performance is limited evidence; further reps, practices and roster cuts will determine the pecking order.
What happened in Pittsburgh
The preseason opener at Acrisure Stadium was a chance for the Steelers to evaluate depth players and protect core starters. Pittsburgh beat Green Bay 28-9, outgaining the Packers 385-160 in a game that featured limited work by the team’s established stars.
Rookie Drew Allar, a third-round pick from Penn State, played most of the second half and finished 10-of-13 for 153–154 yards with two passing touchdowns and one rushing touchdown. He entered to chants of “Drewwww” and finished each of his second-half possessions in the end zone, according to game reports.
Will Howard, who missed extended time after his college championship run and returned to the Steelers as a backup, completed 7-of-9 passes for 86 yards and capped a two-minute drill that ended with a 1-yard touchdown plunge by Lew Nichols. Veteran Mason Rudolph also had a productive series, completing 10-of-11 for 93 yards.
What McCarthy said
After the game McCarthy described the quartet of signal-callers as “very poised,” adding that he liked the way the quarterbacks performed, “especially the young guys.” The coach framed his approach as “Quarterback School,” his long-established method of working with and teaching QBs — an approach reporters said he resumed in Pittsburgh.
Why the comments matter
The remarks come amid a crowded and uncertain Steelers quarterback room. Aaron Rodgers remains the veteran starter, and reports indicate his place atop the depth chart is secure for the coming season. Behind him, Pittsburgh is sorting through Mason Rudolph, Allar and Howard as it heads toward roster cuts on Aug. 30.
McCarthy’s praise of Allar and Howard is notable because it reflects early on-field evidence that both younger quarterbacks handled live-game situations calmly under the coach who has emphasized development. Multiple accounts described Allar’s first NFL action as efficient and dynamic — completing a long 74-yard pass on his first throw and finishing with three total touchdowns — while Howard’s late first-half drive demonstrated situational command.
Context and competing perspectives
Reporters and outlets covering the game emphasised that it was a preseason contest against a vanilla defense, and that performances in exhibition play do not directly translate to regular-season outcomes. Coverage noted Aaron Rodgers has suggested he may not need to play in preseason work during his final training camp, and that Rodgers’ long-term status in Pittsburgh makes the timeline for a younger QB’s ascendancy unclear.
Prevailing coverage also highlights the practical roster calculus: Rudolph began practices as the designated backup in camp reports, Howard had been splitting reps with the rookie in the third-team offense, and Allar entered the game having missed part of his final college season with injury. Outlets pointed out Pittsburgh will need to cut to a 53-man roster by Aug. 30, which will force decisions among the three quarterbacks competing for backup spots.
Immediate implications for the Steelers
- Allar’s performance gave the coaching staff a high-efficiency sample to study: two passing TDs, a rushing TD and a high completion rate in limited snaps.
- Howard’s effective two-minute drill provides evidence he can execute situational football and remains in the conversation for a roster spot.
- Rudolph’s efficient series suggests the veteran remains a steady depth option.
Unresolved questions
It remains unclear how preseason play will influence the official pecking order once regular-season practices begin. Media reports agree Rodgers’ starting role is secure for now, but they diverge on the near-term projection for Allar and Howard: some coverage says Allar may have vaulted ahead on early impressions, while others frame McCarthy’s camp decisions as a reminder that Howard must “earn” his standing. Those differences reflect the familiar reality that preseason snaps are limited evidence.
Timeline and what to watch next
- Aug. 21 — Steelers play Green Bay again in their preseason schedule (per media schedule notes); further playing time for backups could clarify coaches’ evaluations.
- Aug. 30 — NFL rosters must be trimmed to 53 players; the Steelers will make final decisions about which quarterbacks remain with the team.
- Regular season — How McCarthy deploys the QB room in early games, and any injuries or roster moves, will ultimately determine who backs up Rodgers and who remains a developmental option.
Bottom line
Mike McCarthy’s brief but pointed praise — that Allar and Howard were “very poised” — underscores the coaching staff’s immediate satisfaction with the young quarterbacks’ temperament and execution in the preseason opener. That assessment adds momentum to both players’ camps, but media coverage and roster realities make clear that meaningful conclusions will wait until more game reps, practices and the post-August 30 roster decisions.
“I thought they were very poised,” McCarthy said. (AP reporting)
