Will Howard ‘Beginning To Settle In’ After Two Weeks Of Steelers Practices

Few sixth-round quarterbacks have had as a lot pleasure surrounding them as Will Howard. As one of many latest members of the Pittsburgh Steelers, Howard performs a place that also has loads of questions forward of the 2025 season. The rookie now has two weeks of OTA practices beneath his belt and likes the place his growth is headed.

“I’m simply beginning to settle in and get extra comfy with the calls and the circulate of the offense,” Howard stated Thursday whereas chatting with the media after the Steelers’ remaining OTA follow. “I’m simply excited to maintain working and maintain getting higher.”

The explanations for pleasure from the fan base are actually there. After a number of years at Kansas State, Howard transferred to Ohio State for the final season of his collegiate profession. He had some hiccups early within the yr however regarded poised and spectacular because the Buckeyes ran the desk within the School Soccer Playoff to win the nationwide championship.

On condition that, the Steelers are getting a participant with a formidable resume late within the draft. The sixth spherical could also be good worth for Howard, however that doesn’t imply his transition to the NFL goes to be straightforward. Rookie minicamp got here and went, however Howard admitted that he struggled on the primary day of OTAs final week.

Talking immediately, he clarified among the issues he did fallacious throughout the Steelers’ first OTA follow and the way he feels he improved.

“All I used to be saying was that on Day 1, I used to be perhaps slightly slower with my toes and with my reads. It wasn’t like I had a horrible day, you realize, I simply missed a pair throws that I usually would have made, a pair reads that I’d need again,” Howard stated. “Because the week went on final week, I felt far more comfy. And as this week’s gone on, I felt a ton extra comfy.”

The pace of the sport is without doubt one of the largest variations that gamers expertise as they transition to the NFL. The most effective gamers in faculty are quick, however so is each participant within the league. These OTA practices aren’t excessive depth, but it surely’s actually affordable that Howard would have wanted a while to regulate. If he’s feeling rather more comfy after simply six days of OTAs, that’s a superb signal.

With Aaron Rodgers now reportedly set to signal, Howard’s probabilities of taking part in time in 2025 are slim. At this level, the QB room consisting of Rodgers, Rudolph, Howard and Skyler Thompson appears full. Rodgers and Rudolph will probably be starter and backup, whereas Howard will compete with Thompson for the QB3 function.

On the finish of the day, you by no means know when any individual’s quantity goes to get referred to as. If it occurs to Howard, he’s a minimum of already beginning to really feel comfy within the offense.