Overview

• Howard told the Pat McAfee Show his hand is feeling good and that he has begun throwing again after a fractured pinkie.
• The Steelers placed the sixth-round pick on injured reserve to open the season, which guarantees he misses at least four games.
• With Pittsburgh’s Week 5 bye, the earliest practical return cited in coverage is Week 6 against the Browns.
• He broke the pinkie on his throwing hand during a center–quarterback exchange in early August and missed the entire preseason.
• Analysts, including Mark Kaboly, questioned the IR move for depriving the rookie of reps, while Pittsburgh proceeds with Aaron Rodgers starting and Mason Rudolph and Skylar Thompson as the backups.