The Pittsburgh Steelers received a blow in training camp as rookie quarterback Will Howard suffered a fractured bone in his throwing hand during practice on August 5, 2025. Head coach Mike Tomlin confirmed the injury, which is believed to have occurred on a center-quarterback exchange. The injury is expected to sideline Howard for at least three weeks, likely causing him to miss the entire preseason period.
Howard, a sixth-round pick out of Ohio State in the 2025 NFL Draft, was listed as the Steelers’ third-string quarterback ahead of the preseason opener. The 22-year-old showed promise in camp, earning cheers from fans for his on-field performances and connection with teammates during practice sessions. Despite the setback, Tomlin described Howard as “looking at his options” for recovery and maintained a cautiously optimistic view on his timeline, stating the injury can be characterized as “week to week”.
The immediate impact of Howard’s injury calls attention to Pittsburgh’s quarterback depth chart as the team prepares for the regular season. Third-string responsibilities and potential preseason reps now fall largely to Skylar Thompson, a former Miami Dolphins seventh-round pick, who has been competing with Howard for the backup role behind starter Kenny Pickett. Thompson will likely see increased opportunities to prove his readiness and contribute in the upcoming preseason games, including Saturday’s opener against Jacksonville.
Kenny Pickett remains the unequivocal starter for the Steelers, having taken over the role in 2023 and showing steady development. He will continue to anchor the offense while Howard recovers. However, the rookie’s injury delays the Steelers’ plan to assess their developmental quarterback depth during meaningful game action. The injury is a complication for the Steelers’ long-term quarterback strategy, which included Give Howard valuable snaps to gauge his potential as a future depth or rotational option.
Despite the setback, Howard embraced the enthusiastic reception from fans and maintained a positive attitude, saying, “I’m just trying to go out there and execute.” His rookie season is now on pause, with the team hopeful he will be ready to contribute later in the year following rehabilitation.
In summary, the Steelers face an early preseason challenge with the injury to Will Howard, who fractured a bone in his throwing hand and is expected to miss about three weeks. Skylar Thompson will absorb the additional playing time to showcase his ability behind starter Kenny Pickett. Head coach Mike Tomlin and the Steelers remain optimistic about Howard’s recovery timeline but will have to adjust their preseason plans accordingly.
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