Former Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Charlie Batch believes the team could turn to rookie Will Howard in the final weeks if their season derails. The Steelers, currently at 6-6 after a loss to the Buffalo Bills, remain in control of the AFC North but face uncertainty. Batch highlights Howard's injury-limited development as a key factor.
The Pittsburgh Steelers are navigating a precarious 6-6 record, holding the reins of their AFC North destiny despite a recent uninspired defeat to the Buffalo Bills. With the season teetering, ex-Steelers QB Charlie Batch advocates for evaluating sixth-round rookie Will Howard from Ohio State if playoff hopes fade.
Howard suffered a broken wrist in early August during training camp, sidelining him through preseason and most of his rookie year. Activated from injured reserve in mid-November, he only recently began practicing, missing essential physical reps. 'The issue that the Steelers have right now is they do have a young quarterback in Will Howard. They were excited about him coming out of Ohio State,' Batch said on Glenn Clark Radio. 'The challenge is he was hurt in training camp with a broken wrist. So when you have something that’s broken, it’s hard for you to go out there and actually get the physical reps. So they can’t even evaluate Will Howard up until this point because he just started practicing a couple weeks ago.'
Batch envisions Howard gaining game experience in Weeks 17 and 18 if the team slips out of contention. 'So depending on how this season unfolds, if for whatever reason it gets away from them and they’re not in it in week 17 and 18, guess what? We may see Will Howard getting some reps to see if he can get game action so they can get evaluation peace on him,' he added. With zero NFL snaps, Howard's assessment is crucial for comparing him to the next rookie class, especially as backups like Aaron Rodgers and Mason Rudolph rarely see meaningful practice.
Howard has benefited from rooming with 42-year-old veteran Rodgers, whom he likens to a coach. Should the Steelers drop to 6-9 with three straight losses, Batch argues prioritizing Howard's audition over Rodgers' potential finale serves the franchise's long-term interests.