As the Pittsburgh Steelers finalize their initial 53-man roster ahead of the NFL’s Sunday deadline, head coach Mike McCarthy confirmed the team will carry four quarterbacks while managing significant contract friction with cornerback Joey Porter Jr.
The Four-Quarterback Gamble Under Mike McCarthy
The quarterback competition that dominated the preseason has reached a definitive conclusion, with the Pittsburgh Steelers prepared to keep all four signal-callers on the active roster. The quarterback debate has been a central narrative of training camp, culminating in a setup where veteran leadership shares space with long-term potential.
Aaron Rodgers and Mason Rudolph anchor the room as veteran options capable of winning immediately, while second-year pro Will Howard and rookie Drew Allar occupy developmental slots. McCarthy acknowledged the unorthodox roster construction following the preseason finale against the Buffalo Bills.
“I feel good about the quarterback room. I’ve been saying it for quite some time. They’ve showed it on the field. We’ve got two veterans that we can win with, and we’ve got two young guys that we’re really excited about their future.”
Mike McCarthy, Head Coach
Carrying four quarterbacks leaves another position group short a player, creating a calculated roster imbalance. According to Ray Fittipaldo’s final roster projection, Howard is a candidate to transition to injured reserve after sustaining a concussion evaluation in the preseason finale, which would allow the team temporary roster flexibility before a potential move.
Contract Impasse and the Joey Porter Jr. Dilemma
While the offensive backfield order is settled, uncertainty looms over the defense regarding cornerback Joey Porter Jr. Entering the final year of his rookie contract, Porter has spent the preseason on the physically unable to perform list due to a back injury while negotiations on a contract extension have stalled.
McCarthy described the talks as being at an impasse. The franchise holds substantial leverage, maintaining the ability to utilize the franchise tag in both 2027 and 2028. Because the organization maintains a strict policy against negotiating contracts during the regular season, a resolution before the mid-September opener appears challenging unless Sunday’s cutdown deadline forces movement.
Decision time is coming for the coaching staff as the 6 p.m. Sunday deadline approaches. The team must choose between activating Porter off the PUP list or leaving him on the reserve/PUP list, which would sideline him for the first four regular-season games.
Roster Math, Cap Space, and Veteran Cuts
Building out the full 50-plus player limit forces difficult personnel choices across every unit. Roster calculus often comes down to financial impact and positional depth rather than raw talent alone.
At inside linebacker, the return of Elandon Roberts reshaped the depth chart, making the decision easy regarding veteran Malik Harrison.
Special teams contributions also dictated final slots.
Building Beyond the 53-Man Limit
For McCarthy, roster construction extends past Sunday’s initial deadline to encompass the developmental pipeline. Drawing on past championship experience, the head coach emphasized that endurance across a full season requires investment in supplementary players.
“It’s going to take probably more than the 68 players to win a championship. I’ve been part of one championship, and you’ll hear me say this all the time because I believe it, I think it’s a principle of how you develop and build a roster. It took 77 players in my one experience that we were able to get that done. So that’s a mindset that I hold true to. It affects the way I train the team.”
Mike McCarthy, Head Coach
Beginning Monday, the Steelers can populate a 17-player practice squad, absorbing players waived during final cuts. With the 6 p.m. Sunday deadline looming, the organization must finalize its procedural moves, balance its offensive line depth, and determine the immediate availability of its sidelined starters.
