Will Howard Injury Update
Man, Steelers training camp is barely underway, and already it throws a curveball. Will Howard, the rookie quarterback from Ohio State, fractured a small bone in his right (throwing) hand during Tuesday’s session at Saint Vincent College in Latrobe.
The vibe around camp had actually been positive—Howard was working his way up the pecking order and getting significant third-team reps after a decent spring and early summer. He’s a sixth-round pick but, honestly, a lot of us thought he could make some preseason noise. In a recent update shared on X by @SteelersUpdate1, Pittsburgh Steelers rookie quarterback Will Howard reportedly suffered a small fracture in his throwing hand during Tuesday's practice session, as per NFL insider Ian Rapoport.
How Did the Injury Happen?
According to coach Tomlin, and pretty much backed up by most beat reporters on the scene, Howard’s right hand got mashed up during a center exchange early in practice. Happens fast; a little miscommunication, a finger in the wrong spot, and suddenly you’re riding a cart to the trainers. During a recent Steelers practice session, quarterback Will Howard was seen exiting early due to what appeared to be a right-hand injury. This development was first noted in a post by @TheStandard412 on X, where they reported that the rookie QB appeared to sustain an issue with his throwing hand.
Tomlin himself told the media, “I think it was during a CQ exchange, but I didn’t have direct eyes on it, so I'm speculating.” It’s sort of wild, though, that something so simple can change a youngster’s entire trajectory for the month. He was in for snaps with teammates, threw a nice short-yardage touchdown, and then just disappeared from team periods.
When Will Will Howard Return?
Will Howard ruled out for “at least three weeks,” which puts his next possible return right at the doorstep of the regular season, maybe even just after cutdown day. If you circle a date, the earliest would be around August 27, a week before the start of the season.
Steelers say more tests are on the way, but surgery is thankfully off the table, and every major reporter seems to agree he dodged the nightmare scenario: no season-ending procedure, just a long, slow wait-and-heal. It’s rough timing.
Training camp and preseason snaps are gold for guys trying to establish a foothold, especially when you’re fighting to be in the regular season QB room behind Aaron Rodgers and Mason Rudolph. There’s an outside shot Howard could be cleared for Week 1 if all goes perfectly, but that’s a hope more than a guarantee. If you’re a fan, cross your fingers and keep checking updates—anything sooner is a bonus, but best guess says late August, if all goes well.
