Rookie QB Drew Allar throws 2 passing TDs, rushes for another in Steelers' preseason debut

The Pittsburgh Steelers might already have their QB1, with Aaron Rodgers set to finish his NFL career with the team this season. But it looks like they’ve got a great second option waiting in the wings.

Play Yahoo's new College Fantasy Football game: Create or join a league now!

Rookie quarterback Drew Allar put up an excellent debut performance in his first NFL game, finding the end zone on three of his four total drives as Pittsburgh beat the Green Bay Packers. (The only drive he didn’t score on was at the very end of the game, with Allar and the Steelers getting the ball back with just 30 seconds left in regulation.)

Though Mason Rudolph got the start, and Will Howard stepped in after him, Allar made his NFL preseason debut in the third quarter. On Allar’s first throw, he found fellow rookie Kaden Wetjen — who also had an excellent showing in his debut — in the middle of the field, with Wetjen zooming for 75 yards and a nearly scoring.

Two plays later, Allar then finished the job with a third-yard rush for a touchdown.

Allar’s second touchdown, and first passing TD of the night, came on the next drive, with the rookie pushing the Steelers offense 89 yards down the field before finding Wetjen in the end zone.

In the final minutes of the game, Allar added one more, floating the ball to fullback Riley Nowakowski.

Pittsburgh went on to win the game 28-9. Overall, Allar went 10-for-13, throwing for 153 yards and earning the best QBRating of the three quarterbacks.

Pittsburgh selected Allar in the third round of the 2026 draft after an inconsistent college career at Penn State. Though the selection was a bit of a surprise, it became quickly clear that Allar would serve as a developmental chip in the QB room with Rodgers’ career coming to a close.

As a result, the Steelers are working to improve the rookie’s game right away: The team is reportedly tried to adjust Allar’s throwing mechanics soon after he arrived in Pittsburgh for offseason workouts. Steelers head coach Mike McCarthy said in May that Allar’s footwork was a particular spot for improvement, as well as his overall accuracy rate.