Steelers Now
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers publicized his retreat with Pittsburgh Steelers teammates via an Instagram post on Sunday night. The four-time NFL MVP was with DK Metcalf, Michael Pittman Jr., Roman Wilson, Ben Skowronek, Pat Freiermuth and Mason Rudolph.
Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk questioned why some players were not at the retreat in Jackson Hole, Wyoming.
“I wonder how the guest list was determined,” Florio said Monday on “Pro Football Talk.” “Slightly more exclusive than the Travis Kelce/Taylor Swift wedding invitation list. Were there others invited that couldn’t make it? Are there members of the team that are wondering, ‘Where’s mine? Why didn’t I get invited? Why am I not there?’ You wonder. You wonder how many more feel like they should’ve been invited and didn’t get invited.”
Will Howard was one of the offensive skill players not at the retreat, and the reason was revealed in an Instagram post. Howard was at a wedding.
Tight end Darnell Washington was another player not at Rodgers‘ “Last Rodeo” retreat. Social media tried to make it something that it wasn’t. Like Howard, Washington must have had a prior commitment.
Howard must’ve caught wind of the noise on social media, as in an act of trolling he had his location listed as Jackson Hole, Wyoming in the Instagram post.
Howard, a sixth-round draft pick out of Ohio State in 2025, was active for just one game (against the Chicago Bears) in his rookie campaign. He played zero snaps. Howard sustained a fractured right (throwing) hand pinky finger early in training camp. The injury caused him to miss the entire preseason and started the season on injured reserve. He was activated on Nov. 12.
A native of West Chester, Pennsylvania, Howard played college football at Kansas State before transferring to Ohio State in 2024, when he threw for 4,010 yards, 35 touchdowns and 10 interceptions while leading the Buckeyes to a College Football Playoff National Championship.
This article originally appeared on Steelers Now: Reason for Will Howard’s Absence at Aaron Rodgers’ Retreat Revealed
