Key facts
- Steelers lost preseason finale to Buffalo 28-27 on Thursday
- Will Howard (2nd year) went 9 of 15 for 69 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT in first half
- Drew Allar (rookie) went 9 of 18 for 88 yards, 0 TDs, 0 INTs in second half
- Coach Mike McCarthy said all four quarterbacks are likely to make initial 53-man roster
- No final roster decision required until Sunday night deadline
The preseason finale and McCarthy’s comments
The Pittsburgh Steelers lost their preseason finale to Buffalo 28-27 on Thursday, with second-year quarterback Will Howard and rookie Drew Allar splitting snaps in the absence of the team’s veteran starters. Howard started and played the entire first half, completing 9 of 15 passes for 69 yards with two touchdowns and one interception. Allar took over for the second half and finished 9 of 18 for 88 yards with no touchdowns and no interceptions.
Following the game, head coach Mike McCarthy indicated that the Steelers’ initial 53-man roster will include all four quarterbacks on the roster. “I feel good about the quarterback room,” McCarthy said. “I’ve been saying it for quite some time, and they’ve showed it on the field. We’ve got two veterans that we can win with, and we’ve got two young guys that we’re really excited about their future.”
Status and decision timeline
McCarthy’s comments suggest keeping all four quarterbacks is the team’s current plan, though no final decision is locked in until Pittsburgh is required to finalize its initial 53-man roster by Sunday night. If circumstances change before the deadline, the Steelers would need to decide which quarterback to start, which to bench, and which to cut or trade.
Context on the roster and 2026 season
The Steelers have established a roster designed to compete immediately. The team has posted a 10-7 record with a wild card playoff loss in each of the last three seasons and holds a franchise record of 22 consecutive non-losing seasons. Oddsmakers have set the team’s win total at 8.5 for the 2026 season. The team’s offensive additions this offseason include Michael Pittman, Rico Dowdle, and rookie Germie Bernard among others, aimed at supporting the quarterback position.
Sources
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