First Call: Steelers LB was hampered during playoff loss; team already looking at RBs in draft

Tuesday’s “First Call” has some background on a Pittsburgh Steeler who was compromised heading into Saturday night’s playoff game at Baltimore.

The Steelers are already looking at running backs in advance of the NFL draft. A former Steeler turned in a highlight on defense during the “Monday Night Football” playoff game.

Plus, we check out the NHL and college hockey scenes in Pittsburgh for Tuesday night.

Rough finale

Patrick Queen did not have the easiest transition to Pittsburgh. Nor did he have an enjoyable conclusion to the year against his former team.

The ex-Raven went back to Baltimore for Saturday’s playoff game and needed four IV bags to get on the field thanks to a brutal case of the flu. That’s according to Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network. Queen ended the day with six solo tackles and 10 overall.

The big-ticket signee at inside linebacker had an uneven first year with the Steelers.

On the plus side, he led the club in tackles with 129. But he didn’t total many splash plays, registering just one sack, six tackles for loss, two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery and no interceptions.

Keep this in mind

Najee Harris is about to become a free agent. Jaylen Warren is restricted. So, expect a lot of running backs to be thrown around as potential targets for the Steelers in the draft.

Apparently, they met with at least two RB prospects at the Hula Bowl. According to a post Monday from Ryan Fowler of the Draft Network, one of them is Micah Bernard from Utah. Bernard (6-feet, 206 pounds) wrapped up the 2024 season with 1,009 yards and four rushing TDs. He also tallied 30 receptions for 150 yards and two scores.

Micah Bernard HAD A DAY IN STILLWATER

25 Carries for 182 Yards ????#Big12FB | #GoUtes pic.twitter.com/mSe3TbIlo4

— Big 12 Studios (@big12studios) September 22, 2024

Peny Boone also got a look from the Steelers at the event, according to Aaron Wilson from KPRC2 in Houston. The Central Florida product is 5-11, 231 pounds, and nicknamed “The Baby Bus” as an ode to Steeler legend Jerome Bettis.

@Hula_Bowl Running Back Peny Boone #13 with the defense unable to bring him to the ground. pic.twitter.com/LQ02KkBoyq

— Bryan (@BNM_777k) January 11, 2025

Boone also played college ball at Maryland and Toledo. His best season was in 2022 with the Rockets. He accumulated 1,400 yards and 15 touchdowns to lead the MAC in both categories.

The Steelers posted just 29 rushing yards on 11 attempts in their playoff game against the Ravens.

Remember him?

A former Steeler had a huge play during Monday night’s NFL wild-card game.

Los Angeles Rams defensive back Ahkello Witherspoon caused a fumble on a corner blitz against Minnesota quarterback Sam Darnold. Los Angeles’ Jared Verse picked it up and scored a defensive touchdown.

JARED VERSE SCOOP AND SCORE!

????: #MINvsLAR on ESPN/ABC
????: Stream on @NFLPlus and ESPN+ pic.twitter.com/bXLHmOUaQW

— NFL (@NFL) January 14, 2025

L.A. went on to win 27-9. They’ll play the Philadelphia Eagles in the next round of the playoffs.

Witherspoon ended the day with three tackles. After playing in 13 games over two seasons with the Steelers in 2021-22, Witherspoon has played in 30 for the Rams the past two years, starting 22.

Busy night

The Penguins’ Tuesday night home game against the Seattle Kraken will be one of 13 on the evening across the NHL.

The Penguins’ five-game homestand has been disappointing over the first four chapters. They are 1-2-1 in those contests, having beaten the Edmonton Oilers on Thursday following a shootout defeat at the hands of the Columbus Blue Jackets last Tuesday. Then they fell in back-to-back games to the Ottawa Senators and Tampa Bay Lightning over the weekend.

The Penguins have 44 points, two back of the Blue Jackets for the last Eastern Conference Wild Card spot. They are in a three-way tie for 10th place with Montreal and Detroit.

Meanwhile, the Kraken are struggling too. Dan Bylsma’s group has lost five of six in 2025 and 10 of 13 since Dec. 14. The team’s 39 points are the fourth-lowest total in the Western Conference. With 144 goals allowed, only the Chicago Blackhawks (147) and San Jose Sharks (158) have given up more.

Former Penguin Jared McCann leads the team with 32 points (13 goals, 19 assists). The Penguins will visit Seattle on Jan. 25.

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• 'We all love Coach T': Players voice support for Steelers coach Mike Tomlin despite collapse

A little something different

The Robert Morris men’s hockey team has a rare mid-week home game Tuesday night. The Colonials host Canisius at 7 p.m. on Neville Island.

This is the first of a seven-game homestand. After the Golden Griffins come into town Tuesday night, RIT visits Clearview Arena on Friday and Saturday. Then, Army stops by next weekend, followed by Mercyhurst on Jan. 31 and Feb. 1.

The Colonials haven’t played a home game since they split a series with American International over Thanksgiving weekend. Most recently, RMU went 0-1-1 at Holy Cross last weekend.

ROURKE TIES IT UP ???? pic.twitter.com/Y2St3YHot2

— RMU Men’s Hockey (@RMUMHockey) January 12, 2025

Coach Derek Schooley’s club has 19 points, which is good for eighth place in Atlantic Hockey. Canisius is sixth with 23 points.

LISTEN: Tim Benz and Brian Metzer discuss the Penguins’ homestand and their looming road trip.