Will Howard threw two interceptions against the New York Jets. This one game might have many up in arms about his presence on the Pittsburgh Steelers roster. However, despite that performance and the Jets stamping a 17-0 win, the Steelers have reportedly made up their mind on the young quarterback.

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s Gerry Dulac reported that the Steelers will keep both Howard and Allar on their 53-man roster.

Howard, in his second year in the league, has the most to lose in Pittsburgh’s four-man quarterback room. Mason Rudolph is set to be QB2 behind Aaron Rodgers, who will play his last season this year. The QB3 position is up for grabs between Howard and rookie Drew Allar. But from what we have seen this preseason, it is the latter who is pulling away.

In the two preseason games, Howard has gone 17-of-24 in passing for 160 yards. Allar has fared better, with 21 completed passes in 36 attempts for 263 yards and three total touchdowns. Many fans presume the rookie is the Steelers’ lock for their franchise quarterback.

That would either relegate Howard to a backup role, or find better opportunities with another team. However, head coach Mike McCarthy, who is known to be good for quarterbacks, is hopeful for both quarterbacks’ development.

“They’re young,” McCarthy explained. “Will didn’t get to play last year. Drew is a first-year player. I have two veterans I feel really good about with Aaron and Mason. I saw what I needed to see in Mason last week. I really want to max out the opportunities with both Will and Drew.”

Howard himself wasn’t thrilled with how things played out, even if his roster spot isn’t in question.

“Those two turnovers will really make it sour,” he said. “There were some good things out there, but if you don’t win the game and turn the ball over, that’s unacceptable.”

Mike McCarthy has maintained for a long time that he was never opposed to having more than three quarterbacks on his roster. In May, he said that it was a “really good” room, and he even hoped General Manager Omar Khan could get the roster limit increased to 55. Also, he believed Will Howard had an advantage over Allar.

“Will is ahead of Drew, just based on the fact that he’s been here.”

However, Howard will have to be patient in trying to impress the coaches.

“You can’t go chasing them,” McCarthy said, per the Steelers. “The minute you go chasing them is when you get in trouble. You’ve really just got to be brilliant in the basics and wait for that opportunity to come.”

For now, both Howard and Allar have escaped a tough reality by getting on the roster. How McCarthy decides to use them this season will be worth looking out for.