We have a health update on Las Vegas receiver Davante Adams amid trade rumors that include the Steelers.
We also get word of a potential MMA bout between two retired AFC North rivals. More injuries in Dallas. And we check in on a former Pirate pitching in the playoffs.
All that in “First Call” on Thursday.
Davante dilemma
Raiders wide receiver Davante Adams is at the center of trade talks. Now ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports that the 31-year-old pass catcher is likely to miss this week’s game against the Denver Broncos with a hamstring injury.
Raiders WR Davante Adams is not expected to play Sunday vs. the Broncos due to his hamstring injury, per league sources. pic.twitter.com/p6sBWjsyPz
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) October 2, 2024
Adams sat out last week’s game against the Cleveland Browns as well.
Many are wondering if this is a ploy by the Raiders, Adams’ camp or both to protect him so he doesn’t suffer a significant injury before the Nov. 5 trade deadline. But The Athletic’s Dianna Russini insists that she has been told that the injury is “real” and that he may miss this week’s game and next week’s when the Raiders host the Steelers.
That’ll be interesting timing given that the Steelers are one of the teams reported to have an interest in Adams’ services.
Other teams that have been linked to trade talks with Las Vegas include the Saints, Jets, Commanders, Cowboys and Chiefs.
This wouldn’t end well
During a Sept. 27 episode of “Inside the NFL,” former Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Chad “Ochocinco” Johnson illustrated how he would attempt to intimidate Steelers players before a game.
Even the fearsome James Harrison.
Now Ocho is saying he and James Harrison are going to face off in an “MMA-style” match in New Orleans before the Super Bowl.
To whatever degree this may be true, Harrison is playing along.
It’s 5 rounds @ochocinco ???? https://t.co/2X8MKfhk9a
— James Harrison (@jharrison9292) October 2, 2024
Johnson replied by saying he would beat Harrison in the first round regardless. Harrison seemed to take exception to that statement.
I’m not exactly sure who would sanction this bout. Harrison is in a slightly different weight class.
The former linebacker played at 6 feet and 242 pounds. In retirement, it looks like he has added another 242 pounds of muscle. Johnson played at 6-foot-1, 192 pounds.
Related
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Another rough deal in Dallas
Heading into Wednesday, fans of the Dallas Cowboys already knew that their team would be playing in Pittsburgh without DeMarcus Lawrence Sunday night. The star pass rusher has been placed on injured reserve with a foot injury.
Linebacker Micah Parsons is also unlikely to suit up thanks to a bad ankle. Now word came out on Wednesday that receiver Brandin Cooks is going to be inactive for the game too. That’s according to ESPN.com’s Todd Archer.
He claims Cooks may miss more games beyond just this week because of an infection in his right knee. The issue cropped up after a procedure Cooks endured in the wake of his team’s win over the New York Giants on Thursday.
The Cowboys will be without WR Brandin Cooks for at least this week vs. Pittsburgh and potentially longer after an infection developed in his right knee following a procedure he had after remaining in NY following the win against the Giants, according to multiple sources.
— Todd Archer (@toddarcher) October 2, 2024
Cooks has nine catches for 91 yards and a touchdown on the season. He is fourth on the team in terms of receiving production behind fellow receivers CeeDee Lamb and Jalen Tolbert, as well as tight end Jake Ferguson.
Oh, Joe
Pitcher Joe Musgrove had to leave the San Diego Padres Wild Card game against the Atlanta Braves Wednesday with an apparent injury.
The former Pirate left with two outs in the fourth inning. San Diego was winning 5-1 at the time. Musgrove had tallied four strikeouts and had allowed just one hit, one walk, and one run. He was replaced by Bryan Hoeing.
The Padres ended up winning 5-4. So they eliminated the Braves and will play the Los Angeles Dodgers in the next round.
Speaking of baseball, did anyone catch the shot fired on social media by the Washington Wild Things toward the Pirates?
Western PA, you have a choice when it comes to your professional baseball. You deserve more than a “working towards winning” narrative. Results matter. https://t.co/RzVBt0CDLU
— Washington Wild Things (@WashWildThings) October 2, 2024
The poor Buccos are now taking heat from a Frontier League team. That somehow feels appropriate.
Tim Benz is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Tim at [email protected] or via X. All tweets could be reposted. All emails are subject to publication unless specified otherwise.
