Steelers camp report: Rookie QB Will Howard expected to miss time after injuring throwing hand

Rookie quarterback Will Howard left practice early Tuesday with the Pittsburgh Steelers because of an injury to his throwing hand. NFL Network reported that Howard broke a bone in his hand and will miss at least three weeks, costing him the preseason.

Howard, the team’s sixth-round draft pick from Ohio State, took reps in the initial team period, but he missed at least the final three periods.

Howard was taken by cart to the locker room where his hand was being evaluated, coach Mike Tomlin said.

“We’ll see where it takes us,” Tomlin said.

Tight end Jonnu Smith also departed early with knee soreness, but Tomlin said that injury was “less significant” than the one suffered by the rookie quarterback.

Howard may have been injured taking a snap, according to Tomlin.

“I think it was a C-Q exchange,” he said, “but I didn’t have direct eyes on it, so I’m speculating.”

Outside linebacker Alex Highsmith missed practice after suffering a groin injury Sunday.

“I don’t know the length of time,” Tomlin said. “It will be a couple of days at least, for sure. We’ll play it by ear.”

Howard’s absence gave more playing time to journeyman Skylar Thompson, a former teammate of Howard at Kansas State. Thompson, who joined the Steelers in January on a reserve/futures contract, was the fourth option on the depth chart Tomlin released Tuesday. Howard was listed at third string.

“I go into it every day being ready to go,” Thompson said. “When that happened, I was excited to get some more reps.”

The Steelers have two more practice sessions at Saint Vincent before they play their preseason opener Saturday at Jacksonville.

Howard likely would have received work in the two-minute offense at the end of camp. Instead, Thompson ran the drill, following Aaron Rodgers’ work with the first team. He moved the offense 59 yards to the 1.

“I did some good things,” Thompson said. “I made some good decisions, had good throws there. I had a missed snap, and I have to take care of ball there. I thought I did a pretty good job.”

Despite moving the ball down the field, Thompson couldn’t get the offense into the end zone. His fourth-down pass was bobbled by running back Kenny Gainwell.

Earlier, Thompson threw a completion to Robert Woods, whose feet were in the end zone but the ball was in the field of play.

Thompson thought he may have gotten the touchdown but added, “I also may have gotten sacked. It’s hard to tell when it’s live. Either way, getting the extra work down there is a good thing. It’s good situational football.”

Returning to practice in a partial capacity was cornerback Joey Porter Jr. Those sitting out practice again included wide receiver Calvin Austin III, cornerback Corey Trice, defensive back Donte Kent, offensive lineman Gareth Warren and cornerback Jalen Ramsey (day off).