PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – There was little chance once the Steelers drafted Will Howard and signed Aaron Rodgers that Skylar Thompson would be a part of the Steelers 53-man roster. He likely still is the odd man out, but that he took advantage of his opportunity in the preseason made it a conversation.
In three preseason games Thompson was 41-56 for 498 yards, four touchdowns and one interception.
The first quarterback to sign this year, Thompson said it’s been a great experience and he is ‘confident with what I’ve done’.
Prior to the hand injury to sixth-round pick and national champion Will Howard, Thompson got just a couple of reps in team drills. After that point, Thompson has had all of the third-team reps including some work in 7 Shots. He improved in nearly every practice and every preseason game.
He gained the confidence of his teammates and coaches and credits the open communication between offensive coordinator Arthur Smith, Aaron Rodgers and the other quarterbacks, the receivers. Everyone has had a voice.
“This team is awesome,” Thompson said. “I have a great group of guys around me that has made this experience great.”
Whether he makes the team likely has less to do with him than it does the status of Howard’s injured hand. It’s unknown how long it will take for Howard to get back to playing. If they put Howard on short-term injured reserve, Thompson likely stays, although the Steelers have only eight opportunities to put a player on short-term IR in 2025. If Howard goes on season-ending injured reserve, opening a spot for Thompson, it would prohibit him from practicing at all with the team all season.
No matter what happens, the 28-year-old believes he’s a better player than the one not re-signed by Miami in January.
“Coming into this, I feel like sometimes in the past I’ve tried to be too perfect,” Thompson said. “I feel like that’s taken away from me being myself. That’s the biggest thing I’ve learned in this opportunity is I got to be myself. I can’t be something that I am not, I feel like when I have that approach and mindset I make more plays than when I don’t. I feel like that set me free a little bit coming into this preseason. It allowed me to go out there and have fun. Have fun playing the game again and loving playing with my guys.”
Thompson has no regrets. He got the shot to let it loose and show what he can do. He’s likely earned a job somewhere.