Will Howard injury update: Report reveals severity of Steelers QB’s fracture

According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, Pittsburgh Steelers rookie quarterback Will Howard suffered a fractured small bone in one of his hands. The injury occurred during practice and thankfully, no surgery will be required. A few weeks on the shelf will be required, though — a brutal blow for Howard in his first NFL training camp.

“#Steelers rookie QB Will Howard, who banged his throwing hand in practice, suffered a fractured small bone in his hand, sources say,” Rapoport said via X. “He’s having additional tests, but it’s likely no surgery is required. He’s expected to miss at least 3 weeks, but more info coming.”

There is not much doubt about who will be Pittsburgh’s starting quarterback Week 1. Aaron Rodgers was signed for a reason, bringing in the veteran with the hopes of winning a Super Bowl. Pending his health, Rodgers will be out there when the Steelers face off against the New York Jets on Sept. 7.

However, this type of year can be critical for a young guy like Howard. He will miss a ton of practice reps and even all of the preseason. You have to imagine Howard would have gotten out there against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Saturday night. Pittsburgh will also face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Aug. 16) and Carolina Panthers (Aug. 21).

Instead, he will have to watch from the sidelines. Fellow backup quarterbacks, Mason Rudolph and Skylar Thompson, could be primed to get their own playing time. At the time of writing, the Steelers have not revealed what the preseason plan for Rodgers is.

Howard was a Day 3 pick at the 2025 NFL Draft, going No. 185 overall in the sixth round. This was off the back of an incredible year in Columbus with the Ohio State Buckeyes. Joining via the Kansas State Wildcats and the NCAA transfer portal, Howard played a critical role in helping Ohio State win a national championship under head coach Ryan Day.

In 16 games played, Howard threw for 4,010 yards, 35 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions while completing 73% of his throws. Most of his big-time performances came in the College Football Playoff, averaging 287.5 yards during the postseason, adding eight touchdowns and just two interceptions.

Even with the success, development is going to be key for Howard as his NFL career gets started. Tough injury luck early in the process, going down with a broken hand while practicing.