Mike McCarthy shares ‘poised’ praise for Steelers’ young QBs after preseason opener

Mike McCarthy liked what he saw from quarterbacks Drew Allar and Will Howard following the Pittsburgh Steelers’ preseason opener against the Green Bay Packers on Thursday night. Howard prepares of his rookie campaign after four years of college football at Penn State. Meanwhile, Allar gears up for Year 2 after missing out on the 2025 season due to injury. They stand out as future options for Pittsburgh once Aaron Rodgers retires after 2026. Allar attempted 13 passes in his preseason debut for the Steelers, completing 10 throws for 153 yards and two touchdowns while adding a rushing score for himself. Meanwhile, Howard completed seven of nine passes for 86 yards. McCarthy reflected on both quarterbacks’ performances after the game, via ESPN. He was high on their composure as he looks forward to their development as professional quarterbacks. “I thought as far as the way they took the play, commanded the huddle. … I thought they were very poised,” McCarthy said of Howard and Allar. “I liked the way all three of them played, especially our young guys. I liked the way Will responded. … He did a good job overcoming some long down on distances, and I thought his two-minute drill was outstanding. And I thought Drew played very, very well.” How Mike McCarthy and Steelers performed against Packers Aug 13, 2026; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers quarterbacks Will Howard (18) and Drew Allar (16) warm up for a pre-season game against the Green Bay Packers at Acrisure Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Barry Reeger-Imagn Images Credit: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect (Reuters) The Steelers hope to pull off one last run with Aaron Rodgers. Once he calls it a career after 2026, this paves the way for Drew Allar and Will Howard to show what they can do when leading the offense. Their efforts ended up helping Pittsburgh secure a 28-9 win over the Packers. The hosts initially trailed 3-0 before taking the lead at halftime. It was smooth sailing in the second half as the Steelers outscored Green Bay 21-3 in the last 30 minutes of regulation. Lew Nichols highlighted the run game with 10 carries for 36 yards and a touchdown to show for it. In the receiving game, Kaden Wetjen caught two passes for 79 yards and a touchdown. Meanwhile, Riley Nowakowski caught the second touchdown pass and Robert Tonyan and Germie Bernard made four receptions each. Pittsburgh’s regular-season campaign will begin at home against the Atlanta Falcons. That game commences on Sept. 13 with kickoff taking place at 1 p.m. ET. — Enjoy free coverage of the top news & trending stories with The Big Lead Newsletter —