First Call: Updates on Kenny Pickett, Josh Dobbs, Chase Brown; former All-Pro critical of Steelers RBs

A former All-Pro running back is critical of players at that position for the Pittsburgh Steelers.

We also have a health update on Cincinnati’s top running back and news about two former Steelers quarterbacks.

All that in Thursday’s “First Call.”

What can Brown do for the Bengals?

The Steelers saw up close what Chase Brown can do when he is fully healthy. The Cincinnati Bengals running back ripped off a 40-yard run against them in the first meeting between the two teams last month.

Chasing Chase Brown down to the one!

????: #PITvsCIN on CBS/Paramount+
????: https://t.co/waVpO909ge pic.twitter.com/rAyrE1MWr1

— NFL (@NFL) December 1, 2024

Now Brown is dealing with an ankle injury, and his availability for Saturday night’s rematch in Pittsburgh is in question. The 24-year-old has missed the first two days of practice this week.

But during Wednesday’s “Breakfast With Benz” podcast, Mike Petraglia of “The Jungle Roars” podcast and WLW radio in Cincinnati told me he is expecting Brown to suit up.

“The word inside the locker room is that he is getting his treatment. He is going to do everything he can do to be on the field,” Petraglia said. “My expectation is that Chase Brown will play with that sprained ankle on Saturday night in Pittsburgh.”

Brown has 990 rushing yards this season. He can boast 360 receiving yards and 11 total touchdowns as well.

Nod to Dobbs

Former Steeler Josh Dobbs is going to start at quarterback in the final game of the 2024-25 season for the San Francisco 49ers against the Arizona Cardinals. Head coach Kyle Shanahan made that announcement Wednesday.

Kyle Shanahan announced Josh Dobbs will get the start in Arizona. pic.twitter.com/ihHylsDUEO

— San Francisco 49ers (@49ers) January 1, 2025

Starting QB Brock Purdy will sit with an elbow injury. He also missed Week 12 with a shoulder injury. Brandon Allen started that day against the Green Bay Packers. The Niners lost 38-10. Allen was 17 of 29 for 199 yards with one touchdown and one interception.

Dobbs played Oct. 27 against the Dallas Cowboys in a 30-24 win but never threw a pass. He was 3 of 4 for 35 yards during a 40-34 defeat against the Detroit Lions on Monday.

This is the eighth franchise that Dobbs has worked for, between being a full-time rostered QB and being on practice squads. The Niners are 6-10 and out of playoff contention.

Via Fox Sports, Shanahan said he wants Dobbs under center because of his mobility. The Niners are working with a number of backups along the offensive line in Arizona.

More sports

• Mark Madden: Should Steelers rest starters vs. Bengals if Ravens win and more sports notes
• Long-distance call: Steelers kicker Chris Boswell thrives on field goals of 50 yards or more
• 'A great honor I don't take lightly': OLB T.J. Watt voted Steelers MVP a record 5th time

Pickett’s problem

Meanwhile, the news isn’t as good for another former Steeler quarterback. Based on what the NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport is saying, it sounds like Kenny Pickett may be scratched for the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday as they face the New York Giants.

Pickett replaced an injured Jalen Hurts two weeks ago during a loss in Washington. Then he started last week against the Dallas Cowboys but got knocked out due to a rib injury. Pickett had already been dealing with sore ribs after getting hurt against the Commanders.

The Pitt alum didn’t practice Wednesday. Now Rapoport is suggesting that Tanner McKee may be in line to start the Week 18 contest for Philly.

With both QBs not practicing, the #Eagles may be starting Tanner McKee with nothing on the line in Week 18. https://t.co/6HWzsY1Jre

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) January 1, 2025

The Eagles are 13-3 and locked into the No. 2 seed in the NFC playoff bracket and champions of the East division. So, the game versus New York is essentially meaningless.

Philadelphia coach Nick Sirianni said Wednesday that running back Saquon Barkley will “probably be somebody that rests.” The former Giant and Penn State Nittany Lion is just 101 yards shy of breaking Eric Dickerson’s record of 2,105 yards set with the Los Angeles Rams in 1984.

Better backs

On NFL.com, retired NFL running back Maurice Jones-Drew published a list of five NFL franchises that need to upgrade their running back depth chart.

The Steelers made his list.

“There are definitely teams with worse backfields, but for what Mike Tomlin wants his Steelers to be, there is much to be desired in the run game,” Jones-Drew said.

“Because Arthur Smith’s offense leans on that element more than any other, I’d like to see it become more explosive on a regular basis.”

The two-time All-Pro cited a number of statistics to support his opinion, including that Steelers’ backs rank 20th in rush yards over expected with minus-2 on the season, per Next Gen Stats.

“Both (Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren) are set to become free agents this offseason, with Pittsburgh having declined Harris’ fifth-year option. As they potentially move on from Harris, who averages fewer than 4.0 yards per carry for his career, look for the Steelers to bring in a younger, more explosive RB for 2025,” Jones-Drew said. “And I won’t be surprised if they re-sign Warren, who’ll be a restricted free agent this offseason.”

Jones-Drew said that the Steelers tend to wear down opponents through “sheer volume.” Pittsburgh is third in the NFL in rushing attempts (510) and 10th in rush yards (2,092). But the club is only 19th in rush TDs (13) and 24th in yards per carry (4.1).