PITTSBURGH -- As rookie quarterback Drew Allar took a few final warmup throws on the sideline at Acrisure Stadium just after 9 p.m. local time, a low rumble that sounded something like "boooo" started building from the crowd of Steelers fans.
And when Allar and the offense trotted out on the turf, the murmurs grew to a decipherable cheer: "Drewwwwww."
Allar, though, didn't hear the crowd welcoming him to his first NFL action in the third quarter of the Steelers' 28-9 preseason win against the Green Bay Packers.
"Honestly, I was more focused on enunciating the playcall more than anything," the third-round pick said with a laugh. "I didn't really hear it at all."
Three plays later, Allar couldn't help but hear the crowd as it roared to life when the Penn State product connected with fellow rookie Kaden Wetjen for a 74-yard catch-and-run on third down that put the Steelers on the doorstep of the end zone. Allar finished the job two plays later on a read-option keeper for a 3-yard score, the first of his three-touchdown preseason debut.
"The first rushing touchdown I had was like the first hit I've had in I don't know how long, but since mid-October," said Allar, who sat out more than half of his final season at Penn State because of a broken ankle. "I feel like that kind of got the physical part out in the way. But I feel like going against our defense every day in practice really helped me mentally prepare for the game."
Allar completed 10 of 13 attempts for 153 yards, two passing touchdowns and the rushing score. But he wasn't the only young Steelers quarterback to turn in a solid performance in his preseason debut. After veteran Mason Rudolph started and played two series, second-year signal-caller Will Howard, who sat out the preseason a year ago after fracturing his pinkie finger in training camp, played three series and completed 7 of 9 attempts for 86 yards. Howard also led a successful two-minute scoring drive before halftime, capped by a Lew Nichols 1-yard run.
"I thought as far as the way they took the play, commanded the huddle. ... I thought they were very poised," coach Mike McCarthy said of Howard and Allar. "I liked the way all three of them played, especially our young guys. I liked the way Will responded. ... He did a good job overcoming some long down on distances, and I thought his two-minute drill was outstanding. And I thought Drew played very, very well."
With wide receivers Michael Pittman Jr. and DK Metcalf sidelined by injuries from training camp, quarterback Aaron Rodgers didn't suit up to face his former team Thursday night. But he stayed involved during and before the game, continuing his role as a mentor to Allar and Howard.
"He really kind of talked to all three of us, but more me and Drew, just about some little things that helped him when he was young in the preseason," Howard said. "'Hey, find your guy.' Today it was Bobby [Robert Tonyan] for me. It was Kaden for Drew and Germie [Bernard] for Mason. Sometimes that's what you do. Or when the headset goes out, have a play that you're ready to get to. And he was helping looking at the defensive signals and the sort of pressures that they were running and giving us feedback on that.
"He was very helpful leading up to this game and then throughout the game he was very helpful as well."
Howard's first drive ended in a punt after he was sacked on third down, but he bounced back in his second, a two-minute drive, with a 17-yard completion to wide receiver Ben Skowronek on fourth-and-1. He then connected with veteran tight end Tonyan for three consecutive big gains of 16, 15 and 23 yards to set up for Nichols' short score.
"That first drive, obviously the jitters are going, and you're trying to settle into it." Howard said. "Just to be able to have an opportunity to work that two-minute drive at the end of the half was huge because we've been drilling that really since day one of camp. ... I've gotten a ton of reps of it, and it's really paid off."
Howard picked up another first down with an 8-yard completion to Tonyan on his third drive, but the series stalled out when he threw an ill-advised pass under pressure on third down, and the ball bounced to the turf.
Allar then took over for Howard and finished the game with scoring drives on three of his four series. The fourth was victory formation.
"It's a huge confidence boost, but I think I came into the game confident just because of the preparation and everything that has gone on in the last two weeks down in Latrobe," Allar said of his performance. "Coach McCarthy and the whole offensive staff put together a really concise game plan ... just calling stuff that they know I'm comfortable with and just allowing us to go out and play fast. I feel like they did a great job of putting me in a position to go out and be successful."