The Pittsburgh Steelers provided an injury update on rookie quarterback Will Howard and it might be bad news for veteran signal-caller Skylar Thompson.
According to head coach Mike Tomlin, Howard has gotten "some positive reviews" in his recovery from a broken pinky finger suffered during the Aug. 5 practice.
Tomlin went on to add that Howard may be able to return to "full participation soon."
Here's the full quote:
"He's had some positive reviews meeting with the hand specialist," Tomlin said, per Chris Adamski of TribLive. "We've increased his level of activity. We've altered the brace that you mentioned. And so he's moving in the right direction in terms of full very soon."
Howard suffered the finger injury on a quarterback-center exchange and was reported to have a timeline of "at least three weeks" to return from the injury.
Tuesday, Aug. 26, which is also cutdown day, is the three-week mark since Howard came down with the issue.
What this means for Skylar Thompson
If Howard is close to returning, the Steelers might opt to keep him off the injured reserve list to start the season, which would be bad news for Thompson because Pittsburgh is not going to keep four quarterbacks.
"Tomlin wouldn't say that (about Howard) if there was intent to put him on short term IR within the next 24 hours," Steelers beat writer Mark Kaboly wrote.
Some Steelers fans might think Thompson could jump Mason Rudolph for QB2 after the respective preseasons they've had, but that is never going to happen because the Steelers have much more faith in Rudolph than that.
The Steelers are also going to keep Howard over Thompson because the rookie at least gives them a young quarterback to develop in the hopes that he can take the reins from Aaron Rodgers if he retires in 2026.
Even if Howard lands on IR, something Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette said is the Steelers' "plan," the Steelers would be better served keeping an extra depth player than a third quarterback who has already hit his meager ceiling.
If Pittsburgh can get something for Thompson, great. If not, they should cut him and bring him back on the practice squad if he clears waivers.
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