Overview

• Howard said on The Pat McAfee Show that he is back to throwing this week and that his hand feels good.
• Pittsburgh placed the sixth-round pick on short-term injured reserve, keeping him out at least four games with Week 6 the earliest practical return because of a Week 5 bye.
• He fractured the pinkie on his throwing hand during an early August quarterback-center exchange and missed the entire preseason.
• Howard says his focus is learning from Rodgers, praising the veteran’s openness and demanding leadership during practice.
• Some local analysts, including Mark Kaboly, criticized the IR decision as limiting in-season development, while Mason Rudolph and Skylar Thompson remain the active backups.