Rookie quarterback Will Howard, who is currently on the Reserve/Injured List, hasn't played a snap for the team in the preseason or regular season after suffering a hand injury in training camp.
It hasn't been an easy way for a rookie to start his NFL career, but he's handled it like a true pro.
"Will has handled the injury like a professional, just as we would expect him to," said quarterbacks coach Tom Arth. "I'm really appreciative of our athletic training staff, our strength and conditioning staff. They've done a fantastic job working with Will and helping him get back. The strength and conditioning from a lifting standpoint, running standpoint, also doing just drill work with him. They've really kept him up to speed.
"He's in great shape right now, and he's in as good a shape as he's been since he's been a Pittsburgh Steeler and he has been doing everything that he can.
"It was disappointing, but that's football and that's just sometimes the way it goes. Sure, we would have loved to have seen him play and compete. He had a great training camp, great off season and we expected him to go into the preseason and perform very well. And it was disappointing that we didn't get a chance to see that come to fruition.
"But he's maximized this time that he's had. I think he's continued to improve physically and mentally, so whenever he's available and if he's able to come back and practice at any point, I'm sure he'll be ready to go."
Despite not getting on the field, though, he has contributed in ways that are hard to measure.
Howard has been a constant in meetings, at practice and games, providing help for quarterback Aaron Rodgers and the offense.
"From a mental standpoint, he's been doing some special projects for Aaron," said Arth. "He's been really locked in mentally to our plan, really locked into our opponent, has been able to help Aaron out in some really great ways and he been able to help our coaching staff. So, he's done a nice job."
While Howard has done what he can to help Rodgers and the offense, Rodgers in turn has been a source of every bit of information he needs.
The veteran quarterback has taken the rookie under his wing, showing him the tricks of the trade and being an open book.
"Will sits right next to him in our meeting room," said Arth. "He stands as close to him as he can at practice every single day. He just soaks it all in and Aaron's been awesome in that regard as well. He's just been so open with Will and with all the quarterbacks honestly, in terms of sharing some small little details of what he does. Just some of the shortcuts and tricks that he's picked up throughout the years that have helped him, and I just think it's been awesome for all of us."
Arth also weighed in on a few other topics regarding the quarterback position including the following:
On Rodgers' accuracy and ability to hit a receiver in the right spot:
"When you're evaluating a quarterback, his ability to put the ball in the proper location to allow receivers to run through catches, to throw receivers open is important. I think the one thing about the NFL that I learned really early, there's no such thing as 'more open' in the NFL. Either you are or you aren't and that just speaks to the ball placement piece. Whether that's a back shoulder throw, or just understanding defender's hips and shoulders and vision and things like that.
"That's something that Aaron does extraordinarily well. And then to be able to put the ball on a crossing route or a breaking route and to be able to put it on his up-field shoulder and allow him to run through it and not break stride.
"I think you saw that in DK's (Metcalf) touchdown this past weekend. If that ball's behind him at all, it may not be an 80-yard touchdown, maybe a first down. So, ball placement accuracy is everything."
On Rodgers standing behind the offense, hands on hips, and signally for a first down on the Connor Heyward 'tush push' play:
"I think he was pretty happy to stand there in the background and just signal first down. If you guys saw that it was pretty funny. Aaron's super competitive and I'm sure that he always wants the ball in his hands or wants to contribute in any way that he can.
"I did not notice it on the field until we're on the plane flying home and I saw it on tape. But that's one of the things you love about Aaron is he has fun. He enjoys the game and it's great to see him out there enjoying it and having fun and he's still playing like he's a young kid in the backyard.
"It's those little things you would think after 21 years that maybe a player wouldn't find as much joy in the game and that's what's been so amazing for me to coach him is he makes it really fun. He loves to compete, he loves to play, he loves to practice and it's awesome to be a part of."
