Mike McCarthy on Steelers QBs: Drew Allar and Will Howard showed poise early against the Packers

Pittsburgh’s first meaningful on-field look at Drew Allar and Will Howard in an NFL game setting came against the Green Bay Packers, and it landed as a development checkpoint the Steelers could take from the night. Allar, a rookie quarterback on the roster, was getting his feet wet under game conditions. Howard, who missed the 2025 preseason after breaking his hand and did not see action the rest of that season until later, also saw time and made it a two-quarterback moment for the Steelers’ long-term planning.

Mike McCarthy, speaking after the game, pointed to the way both young quarterbacks handled themselves. The takeaway from his comments was that neither looked rattled by the transition from preparation to execution in a real matchup. For teams, that kind of “what you want to see” response matters because the early regular-season rhythm is not only about throws and reads, but also about timing, footwork, protection calls, and decision-making under pressure.

Allar’s appearance carried a particular significance because he entered as the only rookie quarterback on Pittsburgh’s roster. For a coaching staff, that places added weight on evaluating whether the fundamentals survive the speed and complexity of NFL defenses. A rookie can look sharp in walkthroughs and scripted reps, but game tempo tests the entire process, including timing throws into coverage, communicating at the line, and managing the pocket when the protection shifts.

Howard’s participation provided a different lens. After missing the 2025 preseason with a hand injury and subsequently not playing for a stretch that season, he eventually returned and was activated from injured reserve. His return then set up the chance to compete in a live setting against an NFL opponent rather than simply work on mechanics. When quarterbacks miss time, coaches often prioritize whether they can regain normal rhythm, handle cadence and protections cleanly, and throw through traffic with consistent ball velocity and placement.

Pittsburgh’s larger quarterback picture remains multi-layered, because preseason and early-game reps are also about evaluating surrounding details, not just the quarterback’s arm. That includes receiver timing, route integrity, protection assignments, and how quickly a quarterback identifies pressure or coverage rotations. Even when a night is described as positive, development is rarely linear, and the next practice and next opponent can expose different matchups or leverage points on the field.

What to watch next is whether the Steelers’ quarterbacks carry forward the same level of poise in subsequent live reps, especially when protection becomes more difficult and disguises become more frequent. The Steelers’ goal in these early looks is to build consistency, not only to show flashes. If Allar continues to translate preparation into crisp decision-making and Howard keeps regaining live-game rhythm, Pittsburgh can treat this as an early step in tightening its offensive execution moving into the next phase of the schedule.