Will Howard's hand injury has the Pittsburgh Steelers navigating a critical QB for Week 1 and beyond. A fracture to a small bone in his right hand, suffered August 5, has him practicing with a brace and catching passes only with his left, casting doubt on his availability for Carolina’s game and the season opener. Initial timelines pegged at a minimum of three weeks, but exact clearance remains uncertain as Pittsburgh balances roster decisions.

With Howard sidelined, Mason Rudolph and Skylar Thompson have ramped up reps. Rudolph could see a third preseason start vs. the Panthers, while Thompson showed flashes across exhibitions. The team even floated IR consideration if Howard isn’t ready by September 7. Howard’s Buckeye season highlighted elite accuracy and TDs, so fantasy managers will track practice velocity and grip recovery for any late-season upside.

As Pittsburgh weighs its Week 1 plan, the fantasy lens will focus on who seizes control of the backup role and how the QB rotation affects pass targets and rushing opportunities. The Panthers matchup adds urgency, and the team’s long-term health calculus will influence whether Howard returns in time for opening night or slides into IR, altering the depth chart for fantasy rosters and streamer decisions.

Howard’s Ohio State marks—high completion percentage and TDs—underline upside if he returns in peak form. The storyline centers on practice tempo, grip strength, and how Pittsburgh balances development with immediate needs as the season approaches.

Pittsburgh’s 17-14 loss to Tampa Bay was a grindstone for evaluation. Roman Wilson flashed again, hauling in a couple of big catches and showing he could grab a meaningful role as Calvin Austin III battles injuries. Lew Nichols continued to pop as a potential No. 3 back, while Sebastian Castro stood out on defense with active play and six tackles. James Pierre struggled, underscoring how thin the Steelers’ corner depth might be without their assumed starters. Mason Rudolph’s outing tightened the QB conversation with Skylar Thompson, and Cameron Heyward’s absence opened a door for Derrick Harmon to flash in pass rush and run defense, including his first career sack. The safeties’ steadiness and the overall emphasis on evaluation rather than final results painted a clear picture: the Steelers are sorting roles ahead of the season, with a few young players staking claims and others needing to show more consistency.

Pittsburgh’s coaching staff voiced clear frustration after a 17-14 preseason setback to Tampa Bay, citing too many unforced errors and self-inflicted wounds that derailed drives. Three Steelers quarterbacks—Mason Rudolph, Skylar Thomas, and Logan Woodside—each threw an interception, underscoring a shaky night for the unit despite some defensive pressure and a couple of forced fumbles. Pittsburgh did pile up penalties (seven) and even had a roughing-the-kicker call that kept TB’s drive alive, amplifying the feeling that small mistakes piled up and shaped the outcome.

From a fantasy-sports lens, the takeaway is the ongoing back-and-forth at the Steelers’ QB depth chart. Rudolph, Thomas, and Woodside each got reps, and all contributed to the turnover narrative, meaning the backup job behind a likely starter remains unsettled heading into the season. Clean football will be essential if Pittsburgh is to maximize offensive opportunities, and any shift in QB rotation could ripple through how pass-catchers and the backfield are deployed in early-season fantasy lineups. The defense and run game could still anchor the fantasy outlook, but until the offense shows steadier ball security, risk remains elevated for Pittsburgh’s aerial options.

Saturday night’s Buccaneers at Steelers preseason matchup at Acrisure Stadium anchors fantasy focus on quarterback reps and rookie evaluations. Mason Rudolph and Will Howard are the likely Steelers quarterbacks, with Aaron Rodgers still on deck if an emergency arises. Kyle Trask is expected to see more field time for Tampa Bay after a 29-7 win over Titans, setting him up as the more appealing late-preseason dart for TB pass-catchers. The game plan and snap distribution could swing streaming opportunities for those rosters as teams tune up for Week 1.

The wider preseason slate listed includes all the usual suspects: Titans at Falcons, Chiefs at Seahawks, and the late-night L.A. rematches, among others. For fantasy managers, the emphasis is on who sees meaningful opportunity in the Steelers’ and Buccaneers’ offenses, how quickly Rudolph or Howard command drives, and whether Trask capitalizes on extended reps to push his fantasy ceiling. Streaming options via NFL Network, NFL+, and other services are highlighted for out-of-market watchability, making this week’s game a practical guidepost for late-draft and DFS planning.

Keep an eye on the trend lines: Rudolph’s experience vs. Howard’s developmental upside, and Trask’s command of TB’s offense when given time. Even if Rodgers isn’t active, his presence looms for future weeks and could influence how defensive coordinators game-plan TB and the Steelers in August. This game becomes a micro-lab for evaluating depth-chart volatility, which matters for roster construction and late-season betting angles.