Will Howard and Drew Allar are set to take center stage for the Pittsburgh Steelers in their upcoming game against the New York Jets. Both players will have the opportunity to build on their impressive NFL debuts from last week. Howard is slated to start, while Allar will handle the remaining snaps.

Aaron Rodgers, who sat out the preseason opener against the Green Bay Packers, will be inactive again on Friday. Additionally, Mason Rudolph, who completed 10 of 11 passes in his brief outing against the Packers, will also not participate.

Head Coach Mike McCarthy explained his decision to give both Howard and Allar the full workload, emphasizing their youth and potential. "Will didn't get to play last year. Drew's a first-year player. Have two veterans I feel really good about, obviously, with Aaron and Mason," McCarthy stated. Howard is making his preseason debut after recovering from an injury sustained last year. In his last outing, he went 7 of 9 for 86 yards, including a crucial 17-yard completion on fourth down.

In contrast, Allar shone in his debut, going 10 of 13 for 153 yards with two touchdowns and one rushing score, achieving a passer rating of 154.8. He expressed confidence in his preparation, crediting his experience against a challenging defense during training camp.

As for Rodgers, his status for the final preseason game against the Buffalo Bills remains uncertain. McCarthy has indicated that he wants Rodgers to play only when his full roster of receivers is available. DK Metcalf and Michael Pittman, both dealing with minor injuries, are currently questionable for Friday's game.

Looking ahead, McCarthy reiterated the importance of preseason games for young quarterbacks, highlighting the need for them to command the offense and adapt to unexpected situations. With this focus, the Steelers' coaching staff aims to maximize the development of their younger players in the lead-up to the regular season.