LATROBE, Pa. — Will Howard’s first crack at the two-minute drill began with promise: four plays, four chunk completions to move the Steelers’ second-team offense beyond midfield. Then, on the fifth play, Howard dropped back and double clutched. The pass sailed over receiver Max Hurleman and right into the waiting arms of safety Sebastian Castro.What did you see on that play?“The guy picked it off,” Howard said, bluntly.The somewhat terse exchange after practice said as much about Howard as his performance in the two-minute drill. Last year at this time, he was an eager newcomer who could have given PR lessons with the way he navigated interviews in a polite and polished manner. This year, we’re starting to see a different side of Howard — in a good way. What he does matters much more than what he says — he’s in a quarterback competition and knows it. You better believe he’s not happy about ending the day with an interception, and he isn’t shy about letting a little competitive fire out.“You’re always competing, especially in this league,” Howard said. “You’re always competing to keep a job and to get on the field. Every opportunity you get, you’ve got to maximize.”How Iheanachor defied expectations to become the Steelers' No. 1 pick Mike DeFaboIt’s just Day 2, way too early to make any real assessments or predictions about where the QB competition will go from here. Overall, it was a mixed day for Howard, with much more good than bad. He showed good process a number of times and produced a handful of crisp completions in other periods.Still, high-stakes moments matter, especially given the unique QB rotation. In any NFL practice, only the top two quarterbacks get a shot in the two-minute drill. On Day 1, Rudolph led the offense into field-goal range during his opportunity. Over time, these moments are going to add up and ultimately will matter as the Steelers decide how many quarterbacks to keep, and how to order them on the depth chart. The spotlight will grow even more when they take the field for the preseason games. Howard is itching to get the opportunity to show what he can do.“I haven’t played in a real football game since the (2025) National Championship,” Howard said. “I’m just, God willing, staying healthy and getting myself ready for those preseason games because I just can’t wait to get back out there with the live bullets.”Rodgers sharp in two-minute drillWhile Howard’s final sequence ended unceremoniously, Aaron Rodgers was nearly flawless during his two-minute drill. He led the offense down the field methodically, completing seven of nine passes. He capped the drill with an 11-yard touchdown pass to DK Metcalf, who beat rookie Daylen Everette.