Football player William Howard, the quarterback for the Pittsburgh Steelers, reportedly suffered a broken finger during training, which may cause him to miss part or all of the preseason games.
Pittsburgh Steelers rookie quarterback Will Howard has sustained a fractured bone in his right hand, specifically a broken pinky finger on his throwing hand, during training camp practice on August 5, 2025. The injury is expected to keep him out of action for at least three weeks, according to NFL Network [1][2][3].
Howard, who was selected in the sixth round of April's NFL draft, had hoped to compete with veterans Mason Rudolph and Skylar Thompson for the backup job to Aaron Rodgers in preseason games. However, his injury has put a halt to those plans, limiting his ability to participate in live game situations crucial for securing the backup quarterback role [2][3].
The injury occurred during practice at the Steelers' training camp in Latrobe, Pa. [1][2][3]. The Athletic reported that Howard is out indefinitely [1][2][3]. Head Coach Mike Tomlin has described Howard's availability as week-to-week, leaving open the possibility that he might return in the latter part of the preseason, though a return before the season opener remains uncertain [2][3][5].
Despite the setback, Howard remains mentally engaged, taking mental reps and attending meetings to stay sharp while he recovers [2]. His experience backing up a four-time MVP and future Hall of Famer Aaron Rodgers is seen as a valuable learning opportunity that could enhance his development [5].
In the 2021 season, Howard led the Ohio State Buckeyes to a national championship in his lone season at the school. Prior to joining the Steelers, he had thrown for 4,010 yards, 35 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions in 16 games. In four seasons at Kansas State and one at Ohio State, Howard threw for a total of 9,796 yards, 83 touchdowns, and 35 interceptions [1][2][3].
With the Steelers also signing Logan Woodside recently and having Thompson and Rudolph on the roster, Howard faces significant competition for the backup spot. However, his recovery without surgery, mental preparation, and mentorship under Aaron Rodgers offer hope that he can still compete for the role once healthy and able to demonstrate his play in preseason or regular-season action [1][2][3][5].
[1] The Athletic [2] NFL Network [3] ESPN [4] Pittsburgh Post-Gazette [5] Pittsburgh Steelers
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