“Operation Adam Thielen”: Steelers Rookie Will Howard Secretly Assigned to Help New WR Catch Up Fast — Inside Pittsburgh’s Most Unusual Midseason Mission
PITTSBURGH — For weeks, Steelers rookie quarterback Will Howard wasn’t even allowed to suit up. Stuck on injured reserve, he spent game days in street clothes, quietly serving as one of the most unexpected utility men on the entire roster.
He wasn’t just watching.
He was working.
Sources inside the building say Howard took on behind-the-scenes assignments from coaches, coordinators — even the other quarterbacks — ranging from defensive scout looks to offensive breakdowns to helping structure practice simulations. For a rookie who hadn’t played a snap, he became a silent engine in Pittsburgh’s weekly prep.
But now that he’s healthy, activated, and back in uniform, Howard has been handed a mission unlike anything he’s done before.
They’re calling it Operation Adam Thielen.
And it might be the Steelers’ biggest midseason challenge yet.
A Veteran Receiver Arrives… Midseason
When Pittsburgh stunned fans by claiming veteran wideout Adam Thielen off waivers, excitement wasn’t the only emotion swirling through the locker room.
There was also urgency.
Thielen didn’t arrive in training camp.
He didn’t get OTAs.
He didn’t spend weeks learning the playbook.
He arrived in Week 14 — stepping straight into a moving train at full speed.
That’s where Will Howard comes in.
Howard: From Injured Rookie to “Shadow Quarterback Coach”
According to team insiders, the coaching staff immediately assigned Howard to a special role: Shadow mentor, translator, and on-the-fly systems guide for Thielen as he scrambles to absorb Pittsburgh’s offense.
“He knows the playbook inside and out,” one team source said.
“He spent his entire IR stint studying every detail. He’s the perfect person to bring Thielen up to speed.”
Teammates say Howard has already spent hours walking Thielen through route concepts, terminology, audibles, and timing windows that took most players months to internalize.
And Thielen?
He’s reportedly blown away.
A Rookie and a Veteran Form an Unexpected Partnership
At first glance, it’s an unlikely duo:
- A 22-year-old rookie fighting for a future role
- A 34-year-old Pro Bowler fighting to extend his career
But players say the chemistry has been instant.
One offensive teammate described it as “a surprise spark we didn’t know we needed.”
Another joked that Howard has become Thielen’s “personal iPad,” decoding every layer of the playbook at rapid speed.
Week 14 Could Tell the Whole Story
With Pittsburgh sitting at a crossroads in the AFC, Thielen’s ability to make an immediate impact could reshape the Steelers’ playoff hopes.
And behind the scenes — quietly, relentlessly — Will Howard is doing everything he can to make sure that happens.
Rookie or not, this is the moment he proves he’s more than just a backup quarterback waiting for a shot.
This is his first real imprint on the 2024 Steelers.
And the team believes it might matter more than anyone realizes.
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