First Call: Steelers expect Eagles to get A.J. Brown more involved; Joey Porter Jr. discusses defensive assignments
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Thursday’s “First Call” finds a Pittsburgh Steeler who is getting ready to play the Philadelphia Eagles for a second time this year. Joey Porter Jr. talks about trying to slow the Eagles’ offensive attack. The Penguins are heading up to Canada.
And an AFC contender is keeping a close eye on its quarterback.
Seeing things for a 2nd time
This Sunday, the Steelers are looking for a win in Philadelphia for the first time since 1965.
Recently acquired Steelers linebacker Preston Smith has already played against the Eagles once this year. He and the Green Bay Packers opened the season with a 34-29 loss in Brazil against Philadelphia in Week 1.
That day in September, the Packers got the full Eagles experience on offense. Saquon Barkley had 109 yards rushing. Jalen Hurts threw for 278 yards and two touchdowns. A.J. Brown caught five passes for 119 yards and a score. DeVonta Smith also had seven catches for 84 yards.
JALEN HURTS TO AJ BROWN. 67-YARD TD TO START THE SECOND HALF.
????: #GBvsPHI on Peacock pic.twitter.com/Xq57EnstcK
— NFL (@NFL) September 7, 2024
After a week of attention surrounding the fact that Brown only had four targets last week, and the fact the Eagles’ passing game is 31st in the league, Smith expects the squeaky wheel to get the grease on Sunday.
“I think so,” Smith said when asked if the Eagles might throw more to Brown this weekend. “You want your guys who are known for making plays to make plays. When they want the ball you definitely see that a lot. That may be a focal point for them going forward. You want to make sure the leaders of your team stay happy. I figure they’ll figure out a way to get him the ball and help him out as best as they can.”
As the Eagles prepare to host the Steelers on Sunday, they are seventh in total offense in the NFL at 371.1 yards per game. They are also eighth at 26.3 points per game. Yet, at 180.6 passing yards per contest, Philly ranks ahead of only New England (171.5) in the entire NFL.
Brown is fourth in yards per catch at 17.4 and 17th in yards, with 836. That said, he is only 47th in receptions with 48 and has just four touchdowns.
On the ground, Barkley has 1,623 yards on 266 carries this year. He leads the league in both those categories.
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Figuring it ‘aht
If Joey Porter Jr. is going to be traveling with Brown the whole game, he isn’t tipping his hand. On Wednesday, I asked the Steelers corner if he’d be given that task, or if he and Donte Jackson would just play opposite sides most of the game.
“I don’t know yet. But they do have a lot of really good receivers,” Porter said. “It really depends on what the coach wants from us. I just play what the coach needs.”
But Porter echoed Smith’s sentiments about the Eagles likely airing it out more this week.
“I believe so,” Porter said. “They said it themselves that they are going to try to get (Brown) the ball. So it is going to be fun. We know that they are the No. 1 rush offense. So our main goal is to stop the run. And then after that, we just have to play ball and see what they do from there.”
When the Steelers were in Philadelphia in 2022, Brown had six catches for 156 yards and three touchdowns.
AJ BROWN. THREE FIRST HALF TOUCHDOWNS.
????: #PITvsPHI on CBS
????: Stream on NFL+ https://t.co/kHi66m0LGX pic.twitter.com/Ih3iKlG2D1— NFL (@NFL) October 30, 2022
The Eagles won that game 35-13.
Herbert’s health
One of the teams in the AFC wild-card race has some questions at quarterback.
Los Angeles Chargers QB Justin Herbert did not practice Wednesday in advance of his team’s game against Tampa Bay this weekend. He’s dealing with a sprained left ankle and a thigh contusion after a loss to the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday night.
“It’s definitely painful enough to be able to miss a practice, but I feel like I’ve been able to move around a little bit better this week than I did after Carolina, where I was put into a boot and had difficulty walking,” Herbert said via ESPN.com.
That game Herbert mentioned was a Week 2 win over the Carolina Panthers. The Chargers then came to Pittsburgh and lost to the Steelers, 20-10. Herbert started but couldn’t finish that game.
If the playoffs were to start today, the Chargers would be back at Acrisure Stadium for a first-round matchup against the Steelers.
Pack your passports
After dropping a 6-2 loss at home to Colorado, the Penguins are heading to Canada for two games. Sidney Crosby and company are in Montreal on Thursday night and Ottawa on Saturday.
Both opponents are struggling. Like the Penguins, the Senators only have 28 points. They are tied with the Penguins for 11th place in the Eastern Conference, two points behind Tampa Bay for what would be the second wild card spot right now in the Eastern Conference standings.
As for Montreal, the Canadiens have only 25 points. That’s the lowest total in the Eastern Conference. One thing to be said for both clubs, though, is that they have at least both been decent on home ice.
The Senators are 9-6-1 at home. The Canadiens are 8-6-2. But they are two of the worst road teams in hockey.
This is Pittsburgh’s first game against Ottawa this year. The Pens beat Montreal, 6-3, at PPG Paints Arena on Oct. 14.