Given recent history, Steelers QB Kyle Allen could be called upon this season

17/06/2024

A few months ago, the Pittsburgh Steelers inked journeyman QB Kyle Allen to a one-year deal with the assumption he would work as the third-string quarterback in 2024. In an offseason where Pittsburgh signed Russell Wilson, and traded for Justin Fields, it’s easy to understand why the Allen signing largely went unexamined.

Allen is entering his seventh season in the league and spent 2023 backing up Buffalo Bills QB Josh Allen. The undrafted rookie has started 19 games in his career, most notably making 12 starts in 2019 with the Carolina Panthers. He went 5-7, tossing 17 TDs and 16 INTs - and had a miraculous 5-0 stretch.

The consensus scouting report on Allen coming out of college (University of Houston) was that he was capable of making any throws due to his cannon of an arm. He also has a good feel in the pocket and isn’t afraid to take a lick.

General Manager Omar Khan did his due diligence on Allen, and for good reason. I’m not sure there’s a team in the NFL that has had to rely on the depth of their signal-callers more than the Steelers over the past decade.

The most recent example is Mason Rudolph just last season. Rudolph entered the year behind QBs Kenny Pickett and Mitch Trubisky and appeared to be a longshot to see any important playing time.

So much for that. Rudolph was thrust into duty in week 15 following an injury to Pickett and disastrous play by Mitch Trubisky. He threw for 719 yards and three TDs in season-salvaging wins against the Cincinnati Bengals, Seattle Seahawks, and Baltimore Ravens.

And who can forget the unlikely folk hero that was Devlin “Duck Hodges”. Hodges started six games for Pittsburgh in 2019 after both Ben Roethlisberger and Rudolph went down and kept them in the playoff hunt with unforgettable moments like his long TD pass to James Washington in a win over the Bengals.

Last but not least, Joshua Dobbs made several starts for the black and gold throughout his tenure with the squad, after beginning the season buried on the depth chart.

Although Russell Wilson’s durability is one of his main calling cards, you simply never know what could happen on any given Sunday. I think the Steelers are in good hands if Allen needs to make an emergency start or two.

For what it’s worth, Pittsburgh signed UCF QB John Rhys Plumlee to an undrafted free agent deal - but Plumlee’s skillset could have him set to play a similar role to that of New Orleans Saints Swiss-army knife Taysom Hill, instead of a traditional drop-back passer.

Allen is a player who you probably don’t want to see receiving meaningful snaps for the Steelers in 2024 but given their history - he very well could.

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