The Pittsburgh Steelers are running out of time to answer some major questions before the 2026 regular season begins.

In this episode of the Pittsburgh Football Podcast, Chris Gates breaks down the increasingly complicated quarterback situation after Will Howard and Drew Allar took a step backward in the Steelers' second preseason game. Did their performances solidify Mason Rudolph's spot as Aaron Rodgers' backup? Should Pittsburgh carry four quarterbacks? And how should the Steelers balance developing Howard and Allar for the future with building the best possible 53-man roster right now?

Chris also dives into the growing Joey Porter Jr. contract saga after Mike McCarthy described negotiations between Porter and the Steelers as being at an "impasse." How concerned should Steelers fans be about Porter missing the start of the season? Is there a realistic middle ground on a new contract? And if the two sides truly can't reach an agreement, should Pittsburgh actually consider trading Porter for draft capital that could eventually help the franchise find its next quarterback?

Plus, Chris explains why the emergence of Asante Samuel could change the equation, why Pittsburgh's quarterback decisions are as much about 2027 as 2026, and why NFL players' cryptic social media posts during contract negotiations need to stop.

With the final preseason game approaching and the regular season less than three weeks away, it's time for the Steelers to start finding some answers.

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TIME STAMPS:

00:00 — Introduction
03:22 — Will the Steelers Keep 3 or 4 QBs?
14:52 — Joey Porter Jr. and the Steelers at an Impasse