Howard, Allar to get all of Steelers' QB reps vs. Jets - ESPN

PITTSBURGH — Mike McCarthy is turning the keys of the Pittsburgh Steelers' offense over to his young quarterbacks Friday night. Second-year signal-caller Will Howard will start against the New York Jets, while 2026 fourth-round pick Drew Allar will follow. Neither Aaron Rodgers nor Mason Rudolph will play in the second preseason game.

«They're young,» McCarthy said Wednesday in explaining his decision to play Howard and Allar over the veterans. «Will didn't get to play last year.… I have some veterans I feel really good about, obviously with Aaron and Mason. I saw what I needed to see from Mason last week. I've talked highly about Mason really since the spring. So I really want to max out the opportunities with both Will and Drew.

»… We've got two games here, and I want to see those guys play as much as possible and we'll continue as we have all camp."

Rudolph, entering his seventh year since being selected in the third round of the 2018 draft by the Steelers, started the first preseason game against the Green Bay Packers and completed 10 of 11 attempts for 93 yards and was sacked twice in 19 snaps.

«Mason has great command to the offense,» McCarthy said. «I mean just pure on the field, game day, he's very experienced. He's a strong personality in the locker room. I really like his command, understand the offense. He's been through a number of systems. He's been asked to do things differently for how we believe the quarterback position is played. He's done an excellent job.»

Howard replaced Rudolph in the second quarter and led a two-minute scoring drive just before halftime. He then started the third quarter before being replaced by Allar, who finished the second half with three total touchdowns. Howard completed 7 of 9