The Pittsburgh Steelers and Green Bay Packers will kick off their 2026 preseason Thursday night, with both teams looking to evaluate young players, new additions and key position battles.
For Pittsburgh, one of the biggest storylines will be the first preseason snaps for Will Howard and Drew Allar in a Steelers uniform. Howard, a 2025 sixth-round pick out of Ohio State, missed last year’s preseason after suffering a hand injury, making Thursday his first opportunity to play in a preseason game for Pittsburgh.
Allar, meanwhile, will make his professional debut. The Steelers selected the former Penn State quarterback in the third round of the 2026 NFL Draft, and the Packers game will give fans their first chance to see him in live NFL action. Allar has impressed during training camp, but Thursday will be a much different test once the lights come on and the game begins.
The two young quarterbacks also have plenty at stake. Howard is competing with Mason Rudolph for the backup quarterback job behind Aaron Rodgers, while Allar is expected to have more time to develop as Pittsburgh’s young quarterback of the future. Head coach Mike McCarthy has said he will be watching how the young quarterbacks operate before the snap, make decisions and finish plays.
That makes the Steelers’ quarterback situation one of the most intriguing storylines of the preseason. Rodgers may receive limited or no action against his former team, which could put even more attention on Howard and Allar.
For Howard and Allar, though, Thursday night isn’t about proving everything in one game. It’s about getting their first real taste of NFL game action, settling into the moment and showing Steelers coaches that they can be trusted when their opportunities come.
The final score may not matter much, but for two young quarterbacks beginning important chapters of their careers, these first snaps could mean a lot.