Steelers QB Battle About to Take Off

PITTSBURGH -- The Pittsburgh Steelers' quarterback battle hasn't been too eventful during training camp. Mike McCarthy came to Latrobe and announced that Mason Rudolph would work with the twos and Will Howard would work with the threes. Since then, nothing has changed. Everything could very soon, though.

The Steelers will host the Green Bay Packers in their preseason opener, putting McCarthy's offense on display for the first time, but most likely not with Aaron Rodgers.

Instead, it'll be his backups. Rudolph will probably start the game, getting the first opportunity to put the quarterback battle to an end. If he doesn't, Howard will roll out there as the second passer to take the field. From there, anything is possible.

This is the first opportunity Howard has had since the start of camp to win the QB2 job behind Rodgers. He was given a chance during OTAs and minicamp but clearly didn't do enough to hold onto the gig. Rudolph surpassed him and has since grown his lead quite a bit over the last two weeks.

Howard can change everything if he goes out there and lights up the Packers defense.

Howard's Opportunity

"I’m so fired up.," Howard said. "Obviously, I’m trying to take it day by day, and it’s still camp. But, sometimes you can’t help but look forward a little bit and start getting excited just to be out there and [get] live game reps — because I haven’t played in over a year in live game reps. I think the last time was the national championship. So, I’ve been champing at the bit for a while to get out there with the guys in a real game-like setting — uniform on, helmet on."

Howard needs to go out there and showcase that all of the upside McCarthy talked about this offseason is real. That he does have starter potential and is taking strides with his mechanics, and putting it on the field to produce results.

If he can, there's a chance he can walk into the second preseason with a real opportunity to prove his worth as the QB2 this season. Nothing will be decided after one game. At least nothing positive. But he can set himself up to head into the last two exhibitions with a real QB battle.

If he doesn't look good, the competition is all but over. It would take Rudolph, who's been in plenty of these games before, to look just as bad, if not worse. Chances are, that doesn't happen.

It's all on Howard. But this is the first real moment of a quarterback battle since the start of training camp. If he takes advantage, things are about to get exciting.

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