Mike McCarthy Explains Why Will Howard Took No. 2 QB Reps Over Mason Rudolph In OTAs

· Yahoo Sports

Mike McCarthy Explains Why Will Howard Took No. 2 QB Reps Over Mason Rudolph In OTAs originally appeared on SportsNet Pittsburgh. Add SportsNet Pittsburgh as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Steelers kicked off their OTAs on Monday, and this summer's practices will be crucial in deciding which quarterbacks make the 53-man roster this fall.

Visit asg-reflektory.pl for more information.

Currently, Pittsburgh has four quarterbacks: Aaron Rodgers, Mason Rudolph, Will Howard and Drew Allar. Rodgers and Allar are expected to secure their spots on the active roster, as most teams don’t usually carry four quarterbacks. This means the final position will likely come down to a battle between Rudolph and Howard.

While Howard lacks NFL experience, Rudolph has played in 34 games. During this week’s OTAs, Howard has been getting reps with the second team, as head coach Mike McCarthy noted that this approach is meant to give Howard more action, given that Rudolph has more experience than he does.

"(Rudolph) has seen a lot of football" and therefore doesn't need the reps," McCarthy said on Tuesday.

The Steelers selected Howard with the 185th pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, but he didn't see any action last season. With Allar also lacking NFL experience as a rookie, getting Howard up to speed to serve as the No. 2 quarterback behind Rodgers will be essential this offseason.

If Howard doesn’t appear capable of stepping up as the No. 2 quarterback this season, he likely won’t make the roster, as the Steelers will need a veteran like Rudolph to back up Rodgers.

More NFL: Aaron Rodgers Hints At Retirement Timeline After Returning To Steelers

Read full story at source