First Call: JuJu Smith-Schuster does milk crate challenge; Steelers teammate optimistic about Stephon Tuitt's return

In Tuesday’s “First Call,” an update on Stephon Tuitt from one of his fellow Steelers defensive linemen. Wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster couldn’t avoid the milk crate challenge. Fallout continues in Baltimore after the injury to running back J.K. Dobbins.

And the Pirates are taking on one of the league’s best in Chicago.

Milk crate madness

By now I’m sure you’ve seen your fair share of the “milk crate challenge” videos on Twitter, right?

Endless tweets featuring a bunch of goofs falling to their near demise as they try to climb a stack of milk crates — for no particular reason.

So, of course, Steelers wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster had to get involved. Hey, anything for a like or a retweet on a trending topic for JuJu, right?

When you make it through the preseason without getting injured, there’s only one way to celebrate: Milk Crate Challenge.

Juju has #SteelersNation on edge once again ????
pic.twitter.com/72zyb6SEsi

— Sporttrade Inc (@sporttrade_app) August 30, 2021

At least it appears Smith-Schuster made it unscathed, and he had some spotters watching out for him. Also, we only see the last few moments of his walk down the pyramid. So maybe this was partailly staged and Smith-Schuster is just intentionally messing with us.

But click on those other videos and look for the awkward falls. Do you think maybe Smith-Schuster might have been putting himself at risk for a busted ankle or wrist by doing that?

I do. And two weeks out from the start of the season, too.

But I know, I know. “JuJu just wants to have fun!” And nothing should ever stand in the way of JuJu’s never-ending quest to have fun at all times.

To make matters worse, I heard Smith-Schuster danced on the Borden’s dairy cow logo first.

Tuitt’s timeline

A lot of Pittsburgh is waiting for Stephon Tuitt’s return to the practice field.

Namely his Steelers teammates.

The starting defensive end has missed all of the preseason and training camp. He’s been dealing with the emotional aftermath of his brother’s death in June and perhaps an injury as well.

According to TribLIVE’s Chris Adamski, fellow defensive lineman Tyson Alualu is hopeful that his running partner up front will be on the field in Buffalo for the Sept. 12 season opener against the Bills.

Tyson Alualu says he expects Tuitt to be ready for Week 1

— Chris Adamski (@C_AdamskiTrib) August 30, 2021

Tomlin said he’d provide an update next week.

What to do about Dobbins

The fallout from J.K. Dobbins’ season-ending knee injury has been sticky in Baltimore.

Via ProFootballTalk.com, “Taylor Bisciotti, an NFL Network employee who also is the niece of Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti, tweeted after the Dobbins injury, ‘I just don’t understand playing starters in the preseason. Can’t convince me otherwise.’”

Dobbins ended up liking Bisciotti’s tweet.

That coincided with head coach John Harbaugh defending his decision to play Dobbins in the preseason. But, at the same time, it was evident that Harbaugh may have been second-guessing himself.

“I know we’re farther down that road than we’ve ever been,” Harbaugh said. “We played our guys so little this offseason. It’s just been how we’ve done it. But anytime a guy gets hurt, you ask yourself those questions.”

Meanwhile, Harbaugh sure is making it sound like the Ravens will try to replicate Dobbins’ productivity in-house, as opposed to looking for help outside the organization.

Ravens coach John Harbaugh on filling the void left by RB J.K. Dobbins: "We have full confidence in the rest of the running backs that are here to pick up the load and do a great job for us."

— Jamison Hensley (@jamisonhensley) August 30, 2021

Gus Edwards could take the top back role for the Ravens now. Justice Hill, Nate McCrary and Ty’Son Williams will also be in the mix.

Names such as Todd Gurley, Le’Veon Bell, and LeSean McCoy were rumored replacements on the free agent market.

Blowing through the windy city

The Pirates are in Chicago for six days. They visit the AL Central-leading White Sox Tuesday and Wednesday.

Then they head to Wrigley Field for four games against the Cubs Thursday through Sunday.

The Cubs are having a lousy season at 57-75. But the White Sox (76-56) still have American League playoff positioning at stake.

It appears they’ll cruise to the AL Central crown, up 10 games on the second-place Cleveland Indians (64-64). But the ChiSox trail the Tampa Bay Rays for the top spot in the American League by 7.5 games. They are also behind the West-leading Houston Astros by 1.5 games and the New York Yankees by .5 games.

The White Sox also have 44 home wins, the most in the American League. And Tony La Russa’s team has the third-best run differential at plus-139, behind only Tampa and Houston.