Mike Tomlin Suffers Major Blow With QB News as Aaron Rodgers Struggles at Camp

Mike Tomlin was determined to make it work by stacking the deck this offseason. With Aaron Rodgers under center, D.K. Metcalf and Jonnu Smith joining the arsenal, and rookie Caleb Johnson adding juice, expectations soared. But Rodgers is 41. Injuries had once derailed his momentum. So Tomlin turned to Will Howard as the safety net. A strong backup with real potential. And now, just as the plan was firming up, that lifeline has been ripped away. Lady Luck does not seem to be smiling upon Tomlin.

Disaster struck the Steelers when quarterback Will Howard suffered a broken bone in his hand. In a recent post on X, Nick Farabaugh confirmed the news, stating, “Will Howard suffers broken bone in hand, to miss entire preseason.” Howard had started the session by participating in seven-on-seven drills and a one-on-one wide receivers versus cornerbacks segment. But then, fans were shocked to see that he left early and was later seen being carted off the field. As he was wheeled toward the training room, Howard offered a thumbs-up, but the damage had been done. Talk about nonchalant, right? But Tomlin must be sweating out bullets.

Will Howard suffers broken bone in hand, to miss entire preseason https://t.co/ln6LgE5fLJ

— Nick Farabaugh (@FarabaughFB) August 6, 2025

This loss is particularly damaging given the current state of Pittsburgh’s offense. Training camp has not inspired confidence. The offense under Aaron Rodgers has failed to deliver a consistent rhythm. After all, Rodgers’ 4X NFL MVP Awards were supposed to be an indicator of experience. Observers reported that Rodgers has avoided turnovers aside from an early interception to Patrick Queen. But despite protecting the ball, the veteran quarterback has not translated that into tangible success on the field.

There have been timing issues, a lack of chemistry, and a concerning number of breakdowns in pass protection. Things are not looking up. Miscommunications between Rodgers and his receivers continue to be a theme. Tomlin might not have foreseen this issue for a QB with two decades of experience. The most glaring issue has been in the red zone. The unit has failed repeatedly to capitalize and finish drives, raising questions as the preseason approaches without a reliable backup option in place. The Jets-Rodgers saga is threatening to repeat itself if training camp predictions of analysts become true.

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