Rookie QB Will Howard adjusting to 'freak accident' that prematurely ended 1st Steelers camp

Quarterbacks took aim at the goal post crossbar Tuesday during a lull in practice. Four of them took turns firing footballs from the 10-yard line and then the 15 with mixed results.

The fifth quarterback, rookie Will Howard, walked up to the 5 and, using his left hand, lobbed a pass that hit its mark.

The crowd at Chuck Noll Field cheered Howard, recognizing it was the best he could do considering the circumstances.

A week earlier, Howard broke a finger on his right/throwing hand in what he termed a “freak accident.” The injury prematurely ended his training camp and potentially his entire preseason.

“It (stinks),” Howard said Tuesday, speaking to reporters for the first time since his injury. “Every ounce of me wants to be out there playing, and I’m sitting here doing nothing. It kills me, especially on what felt like something dumb to me, a freak accident.”

Howard was under center for a routine running play when the ball jammed into his hand. He completed the handoff but noticed something didn’t feel right. He tried throwing the ball but had difficulty getting it out of his hand.

“I can normally tolerate pain pretty well, but I could not grip the football,” Howard said. “I knew it was messed up.”

Howard was taken to the trainer’s room for testing, and it revealed the broken finger. He has worn a soft cast for the past week, with two of his fingers wrapped for protection. Coach Mike Tomlin has labeled Howard’s absence as week-to-week, and it was long enough for the Steelers to sign Logan Woodside to provide a fourth healthy quarterback option to the camp roster.

The good news for Howard was the injury didn’t require surgery. The bad? It affected his chance of making an impact in his first NFL training camp. Howard is hoping he can play in the preseason finale at Carolina in nine days but is deferring on that decision to Tomlin.

“I wish I could go back and change it and be out there playing, but the fact of the matter is it happened,” Howard said. “I have to stay locked in and make sure I’m still on my stuff and locked in during meetings and practice and make sure I’m getting all the mental reps because this time still is important to me.

“Although I’m not getting the physical reps, I need to continue to get the mental reps if I want to continue on the trajectory I was on.”

Howard impressed coaches and teammates with the progression he had made after he initially reported to rookie minicamp in May. He entered camp as the fourth quarterback but quickly moved up a spot and was taking reps away from No. 3 passer Skylar Thompson.

Howard was in line to be the first quarterback off the bench in the preseason opener last Saturday at Jacksonville. Instead, because of the injury, Thompson got the opportunity and made the most of it by completing 20 of 28 passes for 233 yards and three touchdowns.

“It (stinks) being there and not being able to play, but I was super happy for Skylar and Mason (Rudolph) because I felt they both played really well,” Howard said. “It was fun to be on the sideline for my first NFL game, but it does (stink). As much as I’m trying to be a good teammate and pump my brothers up, I’m trying as hard as I can not to be bugged by this a ton.”

Tomlin saw an intangible benefit to Howard being on the sideline in Jacksonville and from the time spent watching drills at Saint Vincent over the final four practices of training camp. Howard has been present on the field, often standing next to position coach Tom Arth while the other quarterbacks compete.

“He’s a sharp guy,” Tomlin said. “He can learn from watching others. It’s important. He has remained engaged in terms of the calls. He’s starting to get back to some conditioning things and some footwork. There are opportunities to get better continually for him.”

Except it is unlikely to happen in a game setting. Howard won’t participate when the Steelers hold a joint practice Thursday with Tampa Bay at Acrisure Stadium, and he almost certainly won’t play Saturday night against the Buccaneers in the second preseason game.

“We’re going to have to see how this heals,” Howard said. “I’m doing what I can to stay ready so I don’t have to get ready. I want to stay physically in shape. I would love the opportunity to get out there. We’ll see what happens.”