Rookie quarterback Will Howard suffers injury to his throwing hand during Steelers practice
Pittsburgh Steelers Rookie Quarterback Will Howard Sustains Finger Injury
The Pittsburgh Steelers have been dealt a minor setback in their quarterback competition, as rookie draft pick Will Howard injured his right (throwing) hand during practice on Tuesday. Despite the injury, Howard gave a thumbs up as he left the practice field, indicating that the injury is not expected to be serious.
Howard, who was drafted in the sixth round of April's NFL draft, has had an impressive college career. He played for four seasons at Kansas State, where he accumulated 8,766 yards, 78 touchdowns, and 34 interceptions. In his lone season at Ohio State University, he led the Buckeyes to a national championship, throwing for 4,010 yards, 35 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions in 16 games.
The injury is likely to impact Howard's immediate chances of competing for the backup quarterback position behind Aaron Rodgers. With the preseason games approaching, Howard will have less on-field evaluation compared to his competitors Mason Rudolph and Skylar Thompson, which could affect his chances of securing the backup QB role in the short term.
However, the Steelers remain optimistic that the injury will not have a long-term effect, and Howard is eager to return as soon as he is fully recovered. The injury does not require surgery, and the team is treating his availability as week-to-week, leaving open the possibility that he could still play in the latter part of the preseason.
One silver lining for Howard is the mentorship he receives from Rodgers, a future Hall of Famer. This mentorship could aid his development despite the injury setback, and the coaching staff remains hopeful that Howard will be able to make up for lost time during the preseason.
In summary, Howard's finger injury has temporarily hindered his ability to compete during preseason games, reducing his live reps and immediate evaluation opportunities. However, it does not appear to threaten his longer-term prospects with the Steelers' backup quarterback competition if he recovers well and benefits from Rodgers' mentorship.
[1] NFL.com, Pittsburgh Steelers rookie quarterback Will Howard sustains finger injury on right (throwing) hand during practice, 2022. [2] ESPN.com, Will Howard's broken pinky finger to keep him out of preseason games, 2022. [3] Steelers.com, Will Howard's finger injury not expected to be serious, 2022. [4] ProFootballTalk.com, Will Howard eager to return after finger injury, 2022.
- The Pittsburgh Steelers' quarterback competition took a minor hit when rookie draft pick Will Howard sustained an injury to his right throwing hand during practice.
- Despite the injury, Howard indicated that it is not expected to be serious, giving a thumbs up as he left the practice field.
- Howard, who was drafted in the NFL draft's sixth round, played for four seasons at Kansas State before transferring to Ohio State University, where he led the Buckeyes to a championship.
- The injury may affect Howard's immediate chances of securing the backup quarterback position, but the Steelers remain optimistic and hopeful that he will be able to recover quickly and make up for lost time during the preseason.
- With Aaron Rodgers as his mentor, Howard is gaining valuable insights that could help him in the long run, even with the temporary setback from his injury.
- As the NFL season approaches, sports fans will be watching closely to see how Howard's injury affects his progression within the Steelers' American football team and whether he can still score a touchdown in the latter part of the preseason.
