All offseason long we've assumed that Pittsburgh Steelers rookie quarterback Will Howard would be kept on the initial 53-man roster, but perhaps we need to adjust our expectations.
According to Ray Fittipaldo of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, fellow backup Skylar Thompson might have the advantage over Howard for the final quarterback spot behind Aaron Rodgers and Mason Rudolph.
Fittipaldo points to Thompson's showings in both preseason games as the reason why the Steelers might opt to keep him over the rookie.
"Yeah, Skylar's kind of forced their decision here," Fittipaldo said on The North Shore Drive Sports Podcast. "They honestly do have a very tough decision to make here. They can evaluate the practices, but you and I both know Mike Tomlin puts more weight on these preseason games. And when you don't have anything to go by there, that's advantage Skylar Thompson."
In preseason Week 1, Thompson completed 20-of-28 passes for 233 yards and three touchdowns. Thompson followed that up by completing 10-of-15 throws for 113 yards and one interception in preseason Week 2.
Howard has been unable to take a single preseason snap due to a broken pinky finger that has sidelined him since Aug. 5. Howard's estimated return timeline is reportedly "at least three weeks," so he's unlikely to play in the preseason finale.
Even with all that going on, the Steelers have listed Howard in the No. 3 spot on the depth chart behind Rodgers and Rudolph, with Thompson listed in the No. 4 spot, so take that for what it's worth.
For a team with literally no future at the quarterback position, it would be stupid to get rid of a developmental signal-caller in Howard, who hasn't even gotten a shot to show what he can do in live-game action yet.
The move would be even dumber if the team opts to cut Howard in order to keep someone who is a career backup, at best, as the No. 3 quarterback.
Is it possible Howard passes through waivers and ends up back on the Steelers' practice squad? Sure, but that's not something we would bet on and chances are there will be at least one team willing to take a flyer on him.
Admittedly, the chances of Howard being the Steelers' next franchise quarterback aren't great considering he's a sixth-round pick, but the mere chance that he could be that guy — however small — makes it worth keeping him around.
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