First Call: Former Pro Bowl lineman gives scouting report on 2 new Steelers; big TV ratings for Steelers-Lions

Wednesday’s “First Call” gives us some expert feedback on the two newest Pittsburgh Steelers. Sunday’s game between the Steelers and Lions posted some impressive television ratings. And a few names with Pittsburgh ties were released by their teams on NFL cutdown day.

The read on Reed

Former NFL offensive lineman Mark Schlereth now works for the NFL on Fox and with 104.3 The Fan in Denver.

He joined 93.7 The Fan in Pittsburgh on Tuesday to provide a scouting report on newly acquired outside linebacker Malik Reed.

“Malik Reed is a very productive player and every time he gets an opportunity, he just goes out and flat makes plays,” Schlereth told the PM Team. “I was on the radio today saying ‘they can’t move him, it would be a mistake.’ Low and behold they do it. … You got a hell of a football player. A guy who will be productive every time he gets the opportunity.”

Reed has played in 45 games over the past three seasons since signing with Denver. He was an undrafted free agent out of Nevada in 2019. Reed has 15 career sacks, including 13 with three forced fumbles over the past two seasons.

The dirt on Davis

Schlereth also gave an offensive lineman’s scouting report on Jesse Davis. He’s the player the Steelers acquired Tuesday afternoon from Minnesota for a 2025 seventh-round pick.

“You can put him in at right tackle, you can put him in at right guard, you can put him at left guard. He’s a versatile player,” Schlereth said. “Is he a great or dominant player? No. But, he’s not going to hurt you from a mental mistake standpoint. He’s going to be where he is supposed to be. … Is he challenged somewhat athletically? Probably. Jesse Davis is a good player.”

Davis will carry a $1.5 million cap hit in Pittsburgh. He played both guard and tackle spots in Miami before going to the Vikings this offseason. Davis has been durable, playing at least 92% of Miami’s offensive snaps in each of the past four seasons. He was a team captain with the Dolphins too.

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TV talk

Check out these television ratings on CBS from the Steelers-Lions game at Acrisure Stadium on Saturday.

It was the most-watched “NFL on CBS” preseason game since 2013.

CBS Sports' Coverage of @Lions-@Steelers is Most-Watched @NFLonCBS Preseason Game Since 2013. pic.twitter.com/XhQ54SowF6

— CBS Sports PR (@CBSSportsGang) August 30, 2022

Via ProFootballTalk.com, even though it was a Sunday afternoon in late August, the Lions visit to Pittsburgh “surpassed the average audience for each of the five Christmas Day NBA games played in 2021.

Hawks-Knicks at noon ET? 2.924 million average viewers. Celtics-Bucks at 2:29 p.m. ET drew 4.933 million. Warriors-Suns, with a 5:13 p.m. ET tip, got 5.189 million. Nets-Lakers, starting at 8:00 p.m. ET, had 5.753 million. Finally, Mavs-Jazz did 1.519 million.”

Round 2 for Q?

If the Steelers still aren’t happy with their outside linebacker situation after acquiring Reed, they may be able to reacquire a former prospect at that position.

The New York Giants waived Quincy Roche on Tuesday. The Steelers drafted him out of Miami in the sixth round of the 2021 draft. The Giants picked him up off of waivers.

Roche got 401 snaps on defense with the Giants. He wound up with 2.5 sacks, 38 tackles and a forced fumble.

Jets cut Jason

Another familiar name was released by New York’s other team. The Jets cut safety Jason Pinnock.

Pinnock was selected by the New York Jets out of Pitt in the fifth round, 175th overall, of the 2021 NFL Draft. According to Connor Hughes of SNY, Pinnock had been getting some reps with the first team and was a surprising cut.

Denzel Mims is on the #Jets 53-man roster & there’s a reason for that. @JeaneCoakley and I discuss why, plus some information on Jason Pinnock, Lawrence Cager & why this is the “initial” 53 pic.twitter.com/NM1TKSiRbf

— Connor Hughes (@Connor_J_Hughes) August 30, 2022

Hughes thinks the Jets are exposing him to the waiver wire but may have plans of getting him back on the practice squad. Jets coach Robert Saleh confirmed that approach.

#Jets HC Robert Saleh said cutting DB Jason Pinnock (@Jason_Pinnock) ‘was very hard’ + ‘we hope we get him back obviously from a practice squad standpoint but with the waiver wire you’re always playing roster roulette’: @nyjets #TakeFlight pic.twitter.com/KXHWIbZGrh

— Paul Andrew Esden Jr (@BoyGreen25) August 30, 2022

However, Aaron Wilson of the Pro Football Network said Pinnock may get plucked off waivers by another team.