This is not the night for quarterback chest-beating or highlight-reel gambling. Will Howard has made it clear enough already: he is not going to chase explosive plays just for the sake of it, and that is exactly why Friday against the Jets matters. The Steelers are trying to learn something real here, not manufacture a preseason myth.
Mike McCarthy announced on Wednesday that Howard will start against the Jets, giving the third-round pick his first start and another step in what is still very much a learning-on-the-job process. Howard has already had his first NFL appearance, and last week he showed the sort of patience he believes is essential, hitting Robert Tonyan on a 22-yard completion that was initially ruled a touchdown. It was a reminder that the big play usually arrives when a quarterback is not reaching for it.
Howard knows the assignment
Howard’s own words tell you almost everything about how he plans to handle this opportunity. He does not want to go hunting for hero throws. He wants the basics done brilliantly, the game taken as it comes, and the opening to big plays to appear naturally rather than by force. That is sensible, especially for a quarterback making his first start and still chasing his first touchdown pass after his first NFL appearance.
There is a temptation in preseason to overread every snap and every drive, but the Steelers do need this controlled look at Howard. A quarterback who is not panicking is usually a quarterback giving the staff something to work with. If he starts forcing the issue, the point of the exercise starts to disappear very quickly.
Allar gets his turn too
And this is not just about Howard. Drew Allar is expected to get a longer look after him, which gives the Steelers a clearer view of another young quarterback in a more extended role. Last week, after backing up Mason Rudolph and Howard, Allar threw for 153 yards and 2 touchdowns in the second half. That is the sort of line that at least makes people lean forward and ask the obvious question: is there something here worth developing?
Allar also sounded like a player enjoying the setting, noting how good the fan support was in the first preseason game and how he is looking forward to seeing what a Friday night crowd brings. That is all part of the backdrop, but the football still has to come first. He also admitted there were one or two plays he would like to have back, which is the honest answer any young quarterback should give.
So Friday is about more than a result against the Jets. It is about whether Howard can manage his first start with poise, whether Allar can build on his second-half production, and whether the Steelers can keep turning preseason snaps into something genuinely useful. No one is asking for a fireworks display. They are asking for answers.
