PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – So how do you decide between Skylar Thompson and Will Howard. You don't, at least the Steelers didn't immediately at 4p when NFL rosters had to be trimmed to 53 active players. They currently have four quarterbacks on the active roster.
It wouldn't even have been a decision in late July. The top three were Aaron Rodgers, Mason Rudolph and Howard with Thompson working as the camp arm. Howard was taking every third-team rep until his hand injury on August 5. Thompson then seized the opportunity and threw for four touchdowns and nearly 500 yards in the preseason.
The question is Howard's hand. It became a more intriguing situation Monday when Howard started throwing, albeit 10 yards, without a brace on his right hand. He went through footwork drills on the side as Thompson continued the third-team reps.
After practice, head coach Mike Tomlin said Howard had some positive news after meeting with hand specialists and have altered the brace he was wearing.
"We've increased his level of activity," Tomlin said Monday. "He's moving in the right direction in terms of full participation very soon."
If the Steelers were to put Howard on injured reserve with the ability to return they would only have six more of those designations left for the entire season after doing so already with corner Cory Trice. NFL limits teams to only using short-term IR eight times. The Post-Gazette's Gerry Dulac reports this is what the team will do with Howard.
If the Steelers put Howard on season-ending injured reserve he will miss practice all season. That might not seem like a big deal, but if would be able to return to full practice soon, as Tomlin stated, that would mean no chance to show the coaches what he might be able to do in a practice setting with the potential to dress if there was an injury.
They could be working on a trade with Thompson. While there were several quarterbacks available as of Tuesday night, a number of whom were recently drafted, few have started a playoff game like Thompson or had the preseason he did.
Thompson might just be a placeholder for a player they want to sign to the active roster. They could be closing in on a free agent move and are just waiting for that player to clear waivers before they put him in Thompson's spot.
Could be the Steelers just want to see another day of Howard throwing before cutting ties with Thompson? There is only one more practice Wednesday before an NFL mandated four days off and then game week begins on Monday.
