Day 1 of Pittsburgh Steelers OTAs could be a sign that Mason Rudolph is on thin ice inside the quarterback room
It was only day one of OTAs in Pittsburgh, but if they are a sign of what’s to come, we may have received a glimpse into the Steelers’ QB depth chart.
After a long offseason away, the 2026 Pittsburgh Steelers finally gathered as one on Monday for day one of what will be three weeks of organized team activities in Pittsburgh.
Of course, Aaron Rodgers was the headliner, but what about the quarterback battle going on behind him? Well, we received our first glimpse into what that looks like in Pittsburgh.
Mason Rudolph Facts
- Played college football at Oklahoma State.
- Was drafted with same selection as Drew Allar (76th overall) in 2018.
- Started a Steelers playoff game against the Bills.
Will Howard takes second team reps to start OTAs
So, a couple of things here. First off, this shouldn’t be a surprise. It was reported that during the team’s voluntary minicamp, it was Howard who was taking the starting reps as the team awaited Aaron Rodgers and the NFL Draft had yet to start.
The other thing to consider here is that day one, in a laid-back, experimental setting, could mean absolutely nothing. When the Steelers resume practice on Wednesday, it could be Mason Rudolph running with the second team. It could even be rookie quarterback Drew Allar.
These situations tend to have a pecking order. The fact that Howard is above Rudolph to start could foreshadow his role this season, but it could also mean that the Steelers want to see more of him than Rudolph, since he’s the de facto rookie compared to the quarterback who has been in the league since 2018.
What Will Howard needs to do to win the QB No.2 job
To be a backup in the NFL, your team needs to know that above all else, you are reliable. You are someone who can steady the ship and calm the waters when suddenly thrust into a game. Rudolph has made a career out of doing that. Sure, his last time out against the Bears wasn’t great, but this is the same player who brought the Steelers from 7-7, to 10-7 and into the playoffs.
Howard doesn’t have that experience. So for him to win the job and keep his place in the pecking order, he has to show that he can handle everything at a high clip. He needs to be able to pick up the new offense fast, execute, and show in live drills and the preseason that he can manage a game plan.
If he does that, expect Howard to be QB No. 2 come September.