NFL MVP candidate Jalen Hurts says he thought he was going to be a Pittsburgh Steeler coming out of college.

Pat Freiermuth sings the praises of Heath Miller. The Saints are dealing with plenty of injuries as they head up to Pittsburgh. Matt Murray won’t be healthy enough to play against the Penguins. And the Duquesne women’s basketball team looks to keep the good times rolling on the Bluff.

All that and more in Friday’s “First Call.”

This one ‘Hurts’

Remember the guy in the green jersey who was throwing all those touchdown bombs to A.J. Brown two weeks ago? That was Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts.

Now picture him in Pittsburgh wearing black and gold. Because apparently he thought it was going to happen.

Hurts was recently on the “New Heights” podcast with his center Jason Kelce and Kelce’s brother, Travis, the All-Pro tight end with the Kansas City Chiefs.

As Hurts explained, he thought the Steelers were going to draft him in the second round of the 2020 draft. Instead, the Steelers selected recently traded wide receiver Chase Claypool with the 49th pick. Hurts went to the Eagles at pick No. 53.

Hurts said that he saw a Pennsylvania number pop up on his phone before his draft slot. But even though the Steelers had just selected Claypool he assumed it was from the Steelers.

“When I saw PA (on the phone), I’m like, ‘Oh, this is Pittsburgh,’” Hurts explained. “I didn’t know what to expect. So when they said the Philadelphia Eagles … I had no idea I was coming (to Philadelphia).”

Hurts never really explained why he was so sure the Steelers wanted him. But he insisted the Eagles were a total surprise.

“I had an interview with them at the draft. From the interview, I didn’t think I was going to be an Eagle,” Hurts said.

"I thought I was going to Pittsburgh ... from the interview I didn't think I was going to be an Eagle" @JalenHurts spoke about his draft night experience for the first time with @JasonKelce and @tkelce pic.twitter.com/KlKI9ASTSq

— New Heights (@newheightshow) November 10, 2022

Travis Kelce also told a story West Virginia fans will find funny. Kelce said he thought he was going to the Jets early in the second round. But New York took WVU quarterback Geno Smith instead. Kelce said that was the “second time Geno took my job.”

The way Kelce tells it, he was trying to get Mountaineers coach Rich Rodriguez to recruit him out of high school as a quarterback. But Rodriguez wanted him to change positions to tight end and made Smith his QB instead.

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Muuuuth on Heeeeath

Former Steelers tight end Heath Miller is getting inducted into the Steelers Hall of Honor on Sunday. Current tight end Pat Freiermuth is looking forward to seeing it.

After all, with every “Muuuuth” chant he hears from the Acrisure Stadium crowd, Freiermuth keeps the legend of “Heeeeath” alive.

“It’s really cool, the history behind that. Having it change to ‘Muuuuth.’ I still think about it as Heath,” Freiermuth said.

As Freiermuth described it, the constant connections between Miller and himself are eternal reminders of goals to chase.

“Heath has a whole career of work I have to work toward. I’m not remotely close to the player he is. It’s cool to see how much the city loves him, and the steps I have to follow,” Freiermuth said.

Freiermuth said he and Miller were trying to hook up for dinner at some point during the week. They first met before the Steelers win over the Chicago Bears last season.

Pat Freiermuth and Heath Miller have a pregame chat. #Steelers pic.twitter.com/y3cPspDwjF

— Ryan Recker (@RyanRecker) November 8, 2021

In his rookie season of 2005, Miller caught 39 passes for 459 yards and six touchdowns en route to a Super Bowl ring. In his first year, Freiermuth had 60 catches for 497 yards and seven scores.

News from New Orleans

As the Steelers are fresh from a bye weekend, the New Orleans Saints are coming to Pittsburgh on a short week, off a Monday night loss against the Baltimore Ravens.

And New Orleans’ injury report looks rough.

Injury report pic.twitter.com/O6iijsDN3g

— Nick Underhill (@nick_underhill) November 10, 2022

One positive piece of news for the Saints is that first-round draft choice Trevor Penning came off injured reserve. The offensive tackle from Northern Iowa was taken one spot before the Steelers selected Kenny Pickett at No. 20 in the first round. Many in the mock draft business thought the Steelers might have an interest in Penning.

He now has 21 days to join the active roster after being sidelined for eight weeks with a foot injury. It’s probably still a long shot that he’ll play against the Steelers. But given some of the injuries along the Saints offensive line, it’s worth tracking.

Toronto time

After snapping their seven-game losing streak in Washington on Wednesday, the Penguins are in Toronto for a Friday night game against the Maple Leafs.

Former Penguins goalie Matt Murray is back to practicing after being on the shelf with an adductor strain. Murray only got one start under his belt with Toronto before going on injured reserve.

He won’t be ready to play against the Penguins but hasn’t been ruled out as an option for Saturday night when Toronto takes on the Vancouver Canucks.

Erik Kallgren is the confirmed starter for Fridays Hall of Fame Game against the Penguins on TSN4⃣

Saturday's starter against the Canucks is still TBD; Matt Murray says he felt "really, really good" in today's practice @TSN_Edge

— Mark Masters (@markhmasters) November 10, 2022

“It was disappointing at first for sure,” Murray said via the Toronto Globe and Mail. “It is an injury I have never had before. It kind of came out of nowhere so it was a little bit frustrating.”

Kallgren is 1-1-3 with a 2.99 goals against average and an .890 save percentage. The Leafs are 5-1-1 at home this season. The Penguins are 2-5-1 on the road.

Holding down the fort

While the Duquesne men’s basketball team is taking on fourth-ranked Kentucky, the women’s team will be in action back in Pittsburgh.

Coach Dan Burt’s Dukes host Brown at 6 p.m. at the UPMC Cooper Field House. Like the men’s team (who throttled Montana 91-63 on Tuesday), the women looked strong in their first game, defeating Point Park 94-47. Chartiers Valley product Megan McConnell had 17 points and 10 rebounds to go along with five steals. She was a perfect 6 of 6 from the floor.

Tess Myers (16 points), Ayanna Townsend (16 points) and Amaya Hamilton (14 points) were also in double digits.

Brown lost its first game 62-52 against Fairfield. The Bears were 6-20 last year.

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