First Call: Steelers to see 1st-team offense from Texans Friday; Pirates get stiff test in series opener vs. Padres
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The Steelers will get a strong challenge at Acrisure Stadium in Friday’s preseason opener, and the Pirates will get one on the mound Tuesday night.
Also, a Steelers division rival is dealing with an injury issue along the defensive front, and a former Steeler loses out on a shot to get back in the NFL.
All that in Tuesday’s “First Call.”
Stiff test
It sounds as if the Steelers’ first preseason opponent will be rolling out its first-team Friday night.
On Monday, Houston Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans told the media that his offensive starters will play at Acrisure Stadium.
That game will be the 2024 preseason debut for the Steelers, but the Texans already have played a portion of one game. They took part in the weather-shortened Hall of Fame game against the Chicago Bears last Thursday. Chicago won 21-17 after roughly 41 minutes of play.
Most of the Texans’ offensive starters sat out that contest. But that will change Friday on the North Shore.
“(You want to) play live reps of football before live action comes in September,” Ryans said via the Houston Chronicle. “So you’ll see our ones go out and get reps this week versus Pittsburgh.”
“You’ll see our ones go out and get reps this week versus Pittsburgh” ???????? pic.twitter.com/pkt855lDbM
— Houston Stressans (@TexansCommenter) August 5, 2024
Houston quarterback C.J. Stroud has new weapons, such as Stefon Diggs and Joe Mixon, to work with in his second season after the club won the AFC South a year ago.
No luck
All eyes are on the San Francisco 49ers as multiple teams, including the Steelers, attempt to figure out what they will do with Brandon Aiyuk.
In the meantime, the Niners made another small move, and it didn’t work out in the favor of a former Steeler.
According to Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com, Matt Breida is returning to San Francisco. He’ll add running back depth behind 2023 NFL Offensive Player of the Year Christian McCaffrey.
The Georgia Southern alum began his NFL career there in 2017. He spent three seasons in San Francisco before a trade to Miami in 2020. Since then, he has also been with the Bills and Giants
Ex-Steeler Anthony McFarland and former Tampa Bay Buccaneer Ke’Shawn Vaughn joined the 29-year-old Breida for a tryout Monday. Over seven NFL seasons, Breida has 2,652 rushing yards, 935 receiving yards and 15 touchdowns.
McFarland signed with the UFL’s San Antonio Brahmas after his contract with the Steelers expired at the end of last season. He is still looking for an NFL job.
Related
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• Catching 300 balls after practice daily exemplifies what Van Jefferson can bring as Steelers’ WR2
A blow for the Bengals
The Cincinnati Bengals have suffered a dent along their defensive line. Defensive end Cam Sample suffered a torn Achilles tendon and is out for the season.
Head coach Zac Taylor made that announcement during a Monday press conference.
“Consistent player, consistent person,” Taylor said of Sample as posted by WLWT.com. “He’s a top-notch human being, affects everybody the right way, has always embraced his role. (He’s) kind of been a ‘whatever I can do to help the team’ guy.”
Myles Murphy, a 2023 first-round pick out of Clemson, may move up the depth chart now.
He had three sacks during his rookie season with the Bengals, totaling 20 tackles across 17 games. According to WLWT, Joseph Ossai, Jeff Gunter and Cedric Johnson may get more reps as well.
Sample has appeared in 47 games for the Bengals, totaling five sacks and 68 tackles. With Trey Hendrickson and Sam Hubbard missing some time due to injuries in training camp, Sample had been getting first-team reps.
‘Cease’ and destroy
When the Pirates take the field for Tuesday’s series opener against the San Diego Padres, they’ll face a significant challenge.
Dylan Cease (11-8, 3.42 ERA) is starting for San Diego. He leads Major League Baseball with 174 strikeouts. Meanwhile the Pirates have accounted for 1,019 strikeouts. Only the Colorado Rockies (1,101) have more in the National League.
Cease was just recently named the National League Pitcher of the Month for July. During that time, he went 4-2 with a 2.35 ERA. Opposing batters only hit .143 against him. The 28-year-old right-hander has won four straight starts, yielding just one run and five hits over 27 2/3 innings.
One of those outings was a no-hitter against the Washington Nationals on July 25. In two starts against the Pirates, Cease is 1-0 with a 2.53 ERA.
The Bucs counter with Bailey Falter. He is 5-7 with a 3.95 ERA. During his last start, Falter worked into the sixth inning, giving up just one run. He got the win as the Pirates posted a 6-2 victory in Houston.