First Call: J.J. Watt addresses talk of joining Steelers; will Jets ask about Steelers QBs? Chase Claypool to the bench?
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“First Call” on Thursday gives you J.J. Watt’s quotes on the idea of joining his brother T.J. with the Steelers.
We also consider the prospect of the New York Jets trading for either Mason Rudolph or Mitch Trubisky. Chase Claypool’s issues in Chicago are getting worse.
Plus, the City Game takes to the ice.
Down this hole once more
With defensive end Cameron Heyward on the shelf for a while with a groin injury, speculation in Pittsburgh has again turned to the idea of J.J. Watt signing with the Steelers to play with his brother T.J.
The retired future Hall of Fame defensive lineman was on the “Pat McAfee Show” on Wednesday, talking about how much he and T.J. were working out this offseason, even though J.J. walked away from the game after last season.
TJ with the DOUBLE HAND SWIPE..
"We worked on that this summer on the golf course and he has an arsenal of moves"@JJWatt #PMSLive pic.twitter.com/efLKVOLdwq
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) September 13, 2023
When asked about the prospect of becoming a Steeler, Watt did little to suggest he’d come out of retirement. But he also didn’t directly say no.
“I love the city of Pittsburgh. I love the people there. I love the way that they treat my brother. I love the history, the tradition. I have so much respect for that place. It is incredible,” Watt said before a pause. “I am enjoying being retired. It’s great.”
JJ Watt didn't write off a NFL return when Pat McAfee pressed him. pic.twitter.com/cZTJNnG0sg
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) September 13, 2023
In May, J.J. told Barstool’s “Pardon My Take” podcast that he would not be joining the Steelers. Although he sounded more definitive back then.
T.J. had three sacks Sunday. That’s 80.5 sacks in 88 career games. That number pushed T.J. past his older brother (92 games) as the second-fastest player to reach 80 sacks since 1982. Reggie White did it in 71 games.
T.J. is currently tied with James Harrison for the most sacks in Steelers history. He could break the record Monday night against the Cleveland Browns. With 15 sacks in 10 games against Cleveland — the most of any opponent Watt has faced — the odds are pretty good.
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Not impossible
Speaking of speculation, many are wondering if the New York Jets may call the Steelers about acquiring either Mason Rudolph or Mitch Trubisky as competition for new starting quarterback Zach Wilson, now that Aaron Rodgers blew out his Achilles tendon.
ProFootballTalk.com’s Mike Florio didn’t dismiss that idea.
“The Steelers are one of the few teams that have the extra backup,” Florio said Wednesday on 93.7 The Fan. “The Steelers could do it if they would say, ‘Fine, take Trubisky and Rudolph will backup Pickett. Or take Rudolph, and Trubisky backs up Pickett.’ But the danger is throwing out of whack what their approach (is) to be: We ride with Zach Wilson.”
That sounds frightening.
If the Steelers get anything less than a fourth-round pick for Trubisky it isn’t worth it. And any value on Sunday may be worth dealing Rudolph at this stage of his career.
Just remember, the Jets beat Rudolph/Devlin Hodges and the Steelers in 2019. Zach Wilson and company won at Acrisure Stadium last year over Trubisky who was pulled at halftime in Week 4. So they may not be all that impressed with either player.
From bad to worse
Receiver Chase Claypool just got shut out in the Chicago Bears season debut against the Green Bay Packers. Plus a video compilation of his lackluster play and poor attempts at blocking made the rounds on social media.
Now word from Chicago is that coach Matt Eberflus is considering making Claypool inactive for this week’s game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Matt Eberflus, asked about Equanimeous St. Brown possibly being active Week 2 in light of Chase Claypool poor play:
"We're looking at all our options right now."
Eberflus says Claypool isn't injured.
— Andrew Siciliano (@AndrewSiciliano) September 13, 2023
Remember, the Bears traded for Claypool from Pittsburgh in exchange for a draft pick that ended up being the first pick in the second round. The Steelers used it on cornerback Joey Porter Jr.
Claypool only had 14 catches for 140 yards in seven games with the Bears last season. He had no catches on two targets Sunday.
How it should be done
They don’t play the City Game in men’s college basketball anymore, and that’s a shame. But they are playing it on the ice on Friday night.
The Duquesne and Pitt men’s hockey teams are squaring off at Alpha Ice Complex in Harmarville at 8:20 p.m. They’ll play there again at 7:50 p.m. Saturday.
This will be the season debut for both clubs.
The two teams are in the American Collegiate Hockey Association, a non-varsity option for college students to be able to play hockey at the collegiate level. The ACHA is the national association for non-NCAA collegiate hockey throughout the United States.
As for the men’s NCAA D1 level, Robert Morris’ hockey team is practicing for its return from a two-year absence. The Colonials’ first game is at home on Oct. 7 at the Island Sports Center on Neville Island.