First Call: Steelers won’t face Detroit’s starting QB; Duquesne offers scholarship to LeBron James’ youngest son

Tim Benz | Tuesday, August 23, 2022 6:18 a.m.

Chaz Palla | Tribune-Review

The Steelers’ T.J. Watt beats Brock Wright on the way to a sack of Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff on Nov. 14, 2021, at Heinz Field.

In Tuesday’s “First Call,” the Pittsburgh Steelers won’t see the Detroit Lions’ best quarterback in their preseason finale. An interesting name is hitting the NFL free-agent market. Duquesne is recruiting one of LeBron James’ sons.

And an infamous Pittsburgh movie villain is now a real athletic champion.

No go for Goff

When the Steelers defense plays the Lions on Sunday, it won’t see Detroit’s starting quarterback.

Detroit head coach Dan Campbell declared that Jared Goff will not play against the Steelers at Acrisure Stadium.

“He’s not gonna talk me into it,” Campbell joked during a press conference Monday. Goff also sat out the second preseason game, a 27-26 win over the Colts in Indianapolis.

Campbell stated that other starters are expected to play about a half, to match what the Steelers are going to do. Via Lions Wire, (USA Today), Campbell indicated that he had a conversation with Steelers coach Mike Tomlin, and that’s his plan as well.

Based on what Campbell said, Tim Boyle will likely start, with David Blough backing up. But that’s not official yet.

A D.I.Y. practice?

On Monday, the Lions had a “do it yourself” practice.

For the players. By the players. No coaches, except for Campbell who reportedly was sitting quietly in the stands at the team’s Allen Park training facility.

According to tackle Taylor Decker via MLive, Campbell said, “Here’s the team scenarios that we want to get done, and you guys are gonna go out there and run the show. … I think it’s awesome to do, because honestly, on a gameday, we’re out there, we gotta communicate, we have to be accountable to one another.”

The Lions handled their individual position drills and seven-on-seven work in the shells. The session lasted about an hour.

More sports

• Tim Benz: Ways to address Steelers offensive line? Coach around it in 2022, make it better in 2023 • Mike Tomlin’s video review calls into question play of offensive line, Kendrick Green • Mark Madden: Kenny Pickett may be playing well enough to be the Steelers’ starter, but is it too risky?

Call Kenyan?

If the Steelers still aren’t happy with their depth at running back, another option is emerging.

According to Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network, the Las Vegas Raiders are releasing Kenyan Drake.

The #Raiders plan to release veteran RB Kenyan Drake, per source. pic.twitter.com/4qFTc9ogbX

— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) August 22, 2022

According to Vic Tafur of The Athletic, the Raiders wanted to trade Drake but couldn’t find a partner. It’s unknown if the Steelers were one of the teams contacted. They were rumored as a possible landing spot in the spring of 2021 when he was a free agent.

Drake is 28 years old. He is coming off a broken right ankle suffered in Week 13 last season. Drake signed a two-year, $11 million free-agent contract with the Raiders last year. Via ESPN.com, Vegas will absorb a $3.6 million salary-cap hit this year and $4.4 million in 2023 as a result of the release.

In 12 games last year, Drake had 63 carries for 254 yards and two touchdowns. He also caught 30 passes for 291 yards and a score. It appears he lost out on a position battle with former Lion Ameer Abdullah as backup to Josh Jacobs.

The Steelers are still looking for a clear-cut answer behind Najee Harris. Jaylen Warren has been impressive in training camp. Benny Snell continues to do some good things on special teams and scored a receiving touchdown against Jacksonville on Sunday. Anthony McFarland appears to be finding his way as well.

So the Steelers may not be itching to add another back. But if so, Drake is a six-year veteran who may not cost much.

Familiar name

Duquesne basketball coach Keith Dambrot coached LeBron James in high school. Now he wants to coach his youngest son in college.

Via Bryce James’ Instagram, Duquesne is the first school to offer him a scholarship.

Bryce James got his first D-I offer

(via _justbryce/Instagram) pic.twitter.com/RviVn8MWlr

— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) August 22, 2022

The 15-year-old James (class of 2025) is currently on the junior varsity team at Sierra Canyon in Los Angeles.

Bryce James gonna be a serious problem (via @CourtsideFilms)pic.twitter.com/GN8iQNzlFo

— Overtime (@overtime) July 29, 2022

His older brother Bronny is on the varsity team.

Via CBS Sports, Bryce had a growth spurt this year and is currently listed as a 6-foot-6 guard/forward. Meanwhile, Bronny is listed as a 6-foot-3 shooting guard.

Dambrot was the head coach at Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary, where he coached LeBron for two high school seasons. Dru Joyce III, one of James’ best friends and teammates at STVM, is the associate head coach with the Dukes.

Bane’s game

The guy that blew up Heinz Field is now a Jiu-Jitsu champion.

Actor Tom Hardy, who once played Batman villain Bane in the Pittsburgh-filmed “The Dark Knight Rises,” just won a real charity Jiu-Jitsu tournament.

Via Newsweek, on Saturday, Hardy took gold at “a charity Jiu-Jitsu championship in Wolverhampton, competing as a trustee for the REORG Charity, a nonprofit that supports people with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, and life-altering physical injuries and trains them in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, a non-violent martial art, as a form of therapy and recovery.”

Hardy has reportedly trained with REORG since he began learning Jiu-Jitsu to prepare for his starring role in the 2011 film, “Warrior.”