Headline: Steelers Coach Mike McCarthy Considers Keeping Four Quarterbacks as Roster Decisions Approach
Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike McCarthy appears ready to include four quarterbacks on the team’s initial 53-man roster. The Steelers concluded their final preseason game on Thursday night against the Buffalo Bills, with Aaron Rodgers and Mason Rudolph sidelined. Will Howard started the game and played the first half, while Drew Allar took over in the third and fourth quarters, resulting in a 28-27 defeat.
When asked if he believes all four quarterbacks deserve a spot on the roster, McCarthy responded that this assessment would be “a very accurate evaluation.” Although McCarthy has never retained four quarterbacks in his 18-year head coaching career, he has consistently indicated throughout August that this scenario is a strong possibility.
“I feel good about the quarterback room,” McCarthy stated, citing the performers’ contributions on the field. “We got two veterans that we can win with, and we got two young guys that we’re excited about the future,” he remarked, as reported by ESPN.com.
In the game, Howard, who also started the second preseason game, completed 9-of-15 attempts for 69 yards, threw two touchdowns, suffered an interception, and was sacked three times. He was evaluated during and after the game for a possible concussion.
Allar, who enjoyed a solid camp and preseason, completed 9-of-18 passes for 88 yards without any sacks, but his attempt for a late-game comeback fell short after three consecutive incompletions.
Keeping four QBs is rare, but there’s sense behind it
Maintaining four quarterbacks would be a rare move, not only for McCarthy but across the league. The last team to carry four quarterbacks was the 2021 Saints. In recent years, the trend has shifted towards fewer quarterbacks on active rosters. During Cutdown Day in 2025, 19 teams kept two quarterbacks and 13 teams had three, with none including four.
How should fans react to this potential decision? Optimistically. While one might argue that adding a fourth quarterback could reduce opportunities for other players, this view overlooks the significance of securing a potential starter or backup for future seasons, particularly with the 53rd roster spot likely inactive for most games.
Rudolph currently stands as the primary backup to Rodgers but is set to become a free agent in the spring. The Steelers might opt to develop two promising quarterbacks for the next season while also addressing the ongoing concern about quarterback development in the league.
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Will Howard (18) throws a pass against the Buffalo Bills in Orchard Park, NY., Thursday, Aug. 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
(AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
McCarthy’s intent to retain both Howard and Allar signifies confidence in their abilities. Though Howard faced challenges during the game and has thrown three interceptions over the last two matches, his promising performance earlier in the camp positions him as a strong candidate for the roster.
Local sources indicate that the decision to keep four quarterbacks could impact several players at different positions. Notable individuals battling for final roster spots include seventh-round RB-WR Eli Heidenreich from Navy, who has garnered fan support, and RB Kaleb Johnson, a third-round draft choice in 2025, who appears in jeopardy. Veteran LB Malik Harrison and offensive tackles Broderick Jones and Jack Driscoll are also among those facing scrutiny regarding their roster status.
One possible option to stash Will Howard
The Steelers additionally have the capability to place Howard on injured reserve based on Thursday’s medical evaluations. This would allow them to retain the quarterback without including him on the 53-man roster. Each team may designate up to two players for IR with a “designated to return” option, which counts towards the seasonal limit of eight IR-return designations.
If this path is chosen, Howard would miss at least the first four games of the season. Following his recovery, a 21-day practice window would activate, whereby the Steelers must either elevate him or move him to season-ending IR.
This plan suggests that the Steelers may not intend to employ all four quarterbacks this season, especially not within the inaugural month. The central consideration is whether they prefer Howard or Allar as the third quarterback behind Rodgers and Rudolph. This strategy offers flexibility in their roster decisions while allowing room to evaluate Howard and respond to other team injury situations. Keeping all four quarterbacks could be a pragmatic approach, revealing how the Steelers can navigate the rules effectively while maintaining long-term objectives.
Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike McCarthy sounds like a man who’s prepared to keep four quarterbacks on the team’s initial 53-man roster.
The Steelers wrapped up their final preseason game Thursday night against the Buffalo Bills, with Aaron Rodgers and Mason Rudolph sitting out. Will Howard took the first-half snaps at quarterback in the 28-27 loss, with Drew Allar handling the third and fourth quarters.
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When asked if all four quarterbacks had earned roster spots, McCarthy said that would be “a very accurate evaluation.”
McCarthy has never kept four in his 18 seasons as a head coach. But he’s been dropping bread crumbs all August, suggesting that four quarterbacks would be a strong possibility.
“I feel good about the quarterback room,” McCarthy said, via ESPN.com. “I’ve been saying it for quite some time, and they’ve shown it on the field. We got two veterans that we can win with, and we got two young guys that we’re excited about the future.”
Howard, who also started the Steelers’ second preseason game, completed 9-of-15 pass attempts for 69 yards and two TDs, also throwing an interception and taking three sacks. He was evaluated for a possible concussion during and after the game.
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Allar, who has had a strong camp and preseason, completed 9-of-18 passes for 88 yards, with no sacks. His last-minute comeback attempt fell short with three straight incompletions to end the game.
Keeping four QBs is rare, but there’s sense behind it
Keeping four quarterbacks wouldn’t just be novel to McCarthy. It’s unusual on a league level, too. The last team believed to do so was the 2021 Saints.
In fact, the more recent league-wide trend for the past decade-plus has been to favor fewer QBs on the active roster, not more. At Cutdown Day in 2025, 19 teams kept two quarterbacks and 13 kept three. None had four.
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So how should Steelers fans take this news? Positively.
On the one hand, you could argue that a fourth quarterback would take a roster spot away from someone else. While nominally true, it’s fair to question the value of the 53rd man – a likely inactive most games, anyway – vs. stashing a potential starter or backup in the future.
Rudolph might be the clear-cut backup to Rodgers right now, but he’s also a free agent this spring. The Steelers could groom what possibly might be their top two quarterbacks for next season on the side, and in a league that constantly gripes about QB development, that would be about as proactive and thorough an approach as we’ll see these days.
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Will Howard (18) throws a pass against the Buffalo Bills in Orchard Park, NY., Thursday, Aug. 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
(AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
It’s also a sign that McCarthy sees real value in both Howard and Allar. It would have been extremely hard to imagine Allar, a third-round rookie, not making the initial roster, so this was as much about Howard’s performance as anything. Although he had some tough moments Thursday, and he has three INTs in the past two games combined, Howard reportedly had enough strong play early in camp to make him a candidate to stick around longer.
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According to local reports, there are a handful of players at other positions who could be affected by the four-QB possibility. Seventh-round RB-WR Eli Heidenreich out of Navy is a fan favorite battling for one of the final slots. RB Kaleb Johnson, a third-round pick in 2025, appears to be in real danger for a spot. Veteran LB Malik Harrison and OTs Broderick Jones and Jack Driscoll are other highly debated players who could end up on the cutting-room floor.
One possible option to stash Will Howard
The Steelers do have another option available. Depending on the results of Thursday’s tests, they could opt to place him on injured reserve on Sunday as a way of keeping him but not having to place him on the 53-man roster. Each team can place up to two players on IR with a “designated to return” tag, counting against the season-long limit of eight IR-return designations.
In this scenario, Howard would be forced to miss the first four games of the season. Once he’s cleared, the 21-day practice window would open for Howard, and the Steelers would need to activate him at the end of that window or be prepared to move him to season-ending IR.
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That possibility could exist. The Steelers probably are not prepared to play all four quarterbacks this season, and almost certainly not all four in the first month of the season. So the main question left would be whether they prefer Howard or Allar as the third option behind Rodgers and Rudolph.
It might be a functional way to keep another non-QB on the roster early. The Steelers can then evaluate Howard carefully and wait for other injuries in order to keep their roster options flexible. Keeping four could be a reasonable approach, but there’s also another way to exploit the rules – fairly – and maintain the long-term vision and plan.
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