First Call: Seahawks watching other stars with injuries before playing Steelers; ex-Penguin scores in Kraken debut

Tim Benz | Wednesday, October 13, 2021 8:20 a.m.

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Mason Rudolph scrambles past Seattle Seahawks linebacker Bobby Wagner during a game on Sept. 15, 2019, at Heinz Field.

As the Seattle Seahawks get set to play the Pittsburgh Steelers on “Sunday Night Football,” a few other big names are on the injury list besides just Russell Wilson.

The franchise may be adding a recognizable quarterback to the roster as well. Two pitchers with Pirates ties got starts in the National League playoffs Tuesday night.

And a former Penguin scores in the debut game for the Seattle Kraken.

All that in “First Call” on a Wednesday morning.

What else is going on?

The Seattle Seahawks are monitoring some injury concerns beyond the absence of star quarterback Russell Wilson as they prepare for Sunday night’s game against the Steelers.

According to SeahawksWire.com, linebacker Bobby Wagner is dealing with a bruised knee suffered Thursday night in the team’s loss to the Los Angeles Rams. It’s not believed to be serious, though. He has only missed two games since the 2015 season.

Chris Carson is more of a question mark. He was inactive for the game on Thursday with a lingering neck issue. Coach Pete Carroll says the running back’s condition is improving. But his status for Sunday is still unknown.

Carroll said Chris Carson's neck injury took "a big turn" coming out of the weekend. No word yet on his status for this week, but that's a good sign.

— John Boyle (@johnpboyle) October 11, 2021

Carson leads the team with 232 yards rushing and three touchdowns.

Remember him?

Quarterback Blake Bortles didn’t exactly leave a Hall of Fame legacy in Jacksonville. But the former Jaguars quarterback does know a thing or two about winning at Heinz Field.

He and the rest of the 2017 Jaguars won there twice that season, including a playoff victory. Now the Seahawks may be adding him to their roster as insurance for new starter Geno Smith as Wilson’s injured finger recovers.

According to ESPN’s Field Yates, Seattle is working out the free-agent signal caller. Bortles was released from Jacksonville in March 2019. Since then he has been with the Green Bay Packers, Denver Broncos and Rams (twice).

McCann can

Former Penguin Jared McCann scored a goal for the Seattle Kraken in the franchise’s debut game against the Vegas Golden Knights Tuesday night.

Is there anything he McCann't do?! pic.twitter.com/srw75FX6nq

— Seattle Kraken (@SeattleKraken) October 13, 2021

The Penguins traded McCann to the Toronto Maple Leafs for Filip Hållander and a seventh-round pick on July 17. The Leafs then exposed McCann to the Kraken in the expansion draft.

Seattle ended up losing its first game 4-3. It was Ryan Donato who scored Seattle’s first goal. Morgan Geekie also scored.

Familiar spot

Former Pirates pitcher Charlie Morton has developed a reputation for helping his teams win clutch postseason games. Such was the case again Tuesday night.

The 39-year-old right-hander started Game 4 of the NLDS for the Atlanta Braves as they looked to eliminate the Milwaukee Brewers. Morton started on short rest and was only pushed into the fourth inning. He gave up two earned runs in 3 ⅓ innings, striking out five and walking one.

But the Braves tied the game 2-2 in the fourth and eventually won it 5-4 thanks to a Freddie Freeman homer in the eighth inning.

???? #MVFree! #MVFree! #MVFree!@FreddieFreeman5 | #BattleATL pic.twitter.com/pDn14OY9t3

— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) October 13, 2021

The Braves will play either the Los Angeles Dodgers or San Francisco Giants in the NL Championship Series. The Dodgers forced a decisive Game 5 on Thursday by virtue of a 7-2 win Tuesday night.

Former Pirates draft choice Walker Buehler started that game for the Dodgers, allowing one run in 4 ⅓ innings. Joe Kelly got the win for L.A. in relief.