Will Howard Fantasy Stats

A sixth-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Will Howard did not see the field as a rookie and spent a chunk of the year on Injured Reserve after breaking his hand in training camp. While the 24-year-old was never expected to contribute as a rookie, there was a thought at the time he was drafted that he might have an outside chance to emerge as Pittsburgh's quarterback of the future. Entering 2026, that possibility looks extremely remote. Aaron Rodgers is back for one final season as the Steelers' starter in 2026, and veteran Mason Rudolph is firmly in place as the team's backup. Perhaps most importantly for Howard's long-term future in Pittsburgh, the team used a third-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft on Penn State quarterback Drew Allar. As a result, Howard could find himself without a roster spot in Pittsburgh as soon as this fall. In dynasty formats, managers should feel comfortable moving on from Howard.

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Will Howard did not see the field as a rookie after coming off the board in the sixth round of the 2025 NFL Draft, but with the team's quarterback uncertainty lasting more than two months into the new league year, there was an outside chance he could have been named the starter for the 2026 season. With the Steelers agreeing to terms with Aaron Rodgers on a one-year deal on Saturday night, Howard's chances of ever seeing the field as a starter, as well as his dynasty value, were dealt a serious blow. Howard will now look to earn the role of Rodgers' primary backup, but with Mason Rudolph still on the roster and the Steelers spending third-round capital on former five-star recruit Drew Allar in the 2026 NFL Draft, even that could be an uphill battle. It's entirely possible the Steelers could thin the room by sending one of Howard or Rudolph to a team in need of depth, but even in a best-case scenario, Howard remains in Pittsburgh for a 2027 positional battle against the higher-drafted, more toolsy Allar in a year that quarterback is expected to be a true strength of the NFL Draft. Howard is RotoBaller's dynasty QB49, and while he's unlikely to ever amount to a fantasy difference maker, he should be held through training camp wherever possible, with the upside case being that he wins the backup job behind a 42-year-old quarterback who has played a full 17-game slate only once in the last three seasons.

Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin said "we'll see" when asked about rookie quarterback Will Howard receiving first-team reps during the week, with Aaron Rodgers (wrist) likely sidelined for their Week 12 matchup against the Chicago Bears. Rodgers has not yet been ruled out for Sunday's game, but he won't practice on Wednesday, and Friday will be the key day for his gameday status. Mason Rudolph is expected to start if Rodgers can't go, but his absence may open up an opportunity for Howard to work with the starting offense during practice. The rookie sixth-rounder out of Ohio State was activated from injured reserve last week after suffering a hand injury before the start of the season. Howard produced big-time numbers in his final collegiate season with the Buckeyes, throwing for 4,010 yards with 35 touchdowns and 10 interceptions in 16 games and leading them to a national championship. If Rudolph struggles, we could see Howard make his NFL debut in Week 12.

The Pittsburgh Steelers have activated quarterback Will Howard (hand) from Injured Reserve and waived running back Trey Sermon to make room for Howard on the 53-man roster. A sixth-round pick in the 2025 draft, Howard fractured his hand in training camp and was placed on Injured Reserve before the start of the regular season. In his senior season at Ohio State, Howard led the Buckeyes to a national championship and threw for 4,010 yards, 35 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions across 16 games. Howard appears likely to serve as the QB3 behind Aaron Rodgers and Mason Rudolph in Pittsburgh, at least for the time being. The 24-year-old has some deep-league dynasty appeal due to the uncertain long-term future of the quarterback position in Pittsburgh, but Howard is unlikely to factor in redraft fantasy leagues this season.

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Will Howard (hand) remains in line to operate as the team's No. 3 quarterback once he's healthy enough to play. For now, Howard will miss the first four games of the regular season after being placed on injured reserve. However, once Pittsburgh activates him, he should replace Skylar Thompson as the third-string quarterback behind veterans Aaron Rodgers and Mason Rudolph. Howard had an impressive senior season at Ohio State as he completed 73 percent of his passes for 4,010 yards, 35 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions while leading the Buckeyes to a national title. Howard didn't get into a preseason game, so Pittsburgh would truly need to have a quarterback emergency for the rookie to play a snap this season. However, plenty of teams have been forced to play or even start their third-string quarterback before, so we can't rule out Howard getting some reps when he's eventually activated in Week 5 or later.

Pittsburgh Steelers rookie quarterback Will Howard (hand) told the Pat McAfee Show that he is taking an important step in his recovery from a broken bone in his right hand. "I'm back to throwing this week," Howard said on Friday. "So it's feeling good, going in the right direction." Howard suffered the injury to his throwing hand on Aug. 5, knocking him out for most of training camp and the entire preseason. The Steelers placed Howard on Injured Reserve on Thursday, meaning the sixth-round pick from Ohio State is guaranteed to miss at least the first four weeks of the season. Even if Howard returns in 2025, it's doubtful that the 23-year-old will see much action as a rookie (if any). The Steelers are entering the season with Aaron Rodgers as their starter and an experienced backup in Mason Rudolph, leaving Howard in a developmental role.

The Pittsburgh Steelers placed rookie quarterback Will Howard (hand) on the Reserve/Injured list on Thursday, according to Teresa Varley of Steelers.com. Howard was drafted in the sixth round (185th overall) in April out of Ohio State, but he suffered a fractured bone in his left hand in training camp on Aug. 5 that kept him sidelined for the entire preseason. He will now begin his NFL career in Pittsburgh on IR, which means he won't be eligible to play in the first four games of the season. The good news is that the injury is to Howard's non-throwing hand, so he should be ready to go when he's eligible. When Howard is cleared, he should operate as the team's emergency third signal-caller behind starter Aaron Rodgers and backup Mason Rudolph.

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Will Howard (hand) is "moving in the right direction in terms of [achieving] full participation very soon," head coach Mike Tomlin said on Monday. Tomlin added that Howard has met with a hand specialist and received positive news. As a result, the Steelers have altered the rookie quarterback's brace and increased his level of activity in practice. Injury statuses can change by the minute, but for now, it looks like Howard should open the season on Pittsburgh's 53-man roster as the third-string quarterback behind Aaron Rodgers and Mason Rudolph. He's off the fantasy football radar for now.

Pittsburgh Steelers rookie quarterback Will Howard (hand) was unable to suit up in their preseason finale on Thursday against the Carolina Panthers. The Ohio State product missed the entirety of the preseason due to a broken bone in his right hand. While the former sixth-round selection had an opportunity to claim the No. 2 job behind Aaron Rodgers, given that he missed the entire preseason, fantasy managers should expect him to open up as the No. 3 option on the depth chart. In 2024, Howard led the Ohio State Buckeyes to a National Championship. He threw for 4,010 yards with 35:10 TD:INT. His passing yards and passing scores both led the Big Ten. With Howard slated to serve in a depth role in his rookie season, he should only be viewed as a deep league taxi squad stash option in superflex dynasty formats.

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Will Howard suffered a broken finger in practice earlier in the week and will not play in his team's first preseason game against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Saturday. Head coach Mike Tomlin called the rookie quarterback "week-to-week" when speaking to reporters on Wednesday. Howard has been battling with veteran Mason Rudolph to be the backup to Aaron Rodgers to open the season, but the missed time thanks to the injury will make it tough for him to overtake Rudolph. UPDATE: Tomlin said he hasn't ruled out Howard from playing in the preseason finale on Aug. 21 against the Carolina Panthers.