First Call: Kenny Pickett likely to start for Las Vegas; timing changes coming for NFL Draft

Thursday’s “First Call” has updates on former Steelers Kenny Pickett and Darius Slay. Changes to the NFL Draft’s first round are coming in time for the event’s arrival in Pittsburgh.

And we preview Thursday’s Penguins-Canadiens game at PPG Paints Arena.

Pickett playing

Former Steelers quarterback Kenny Pickett is likely to start for the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday. The Raiders’ usual starter, Geno Smith, is injured.

If Pickett starts, he’ll be facing one of his other former teams, the Philadelphia Eagles.

Pete Carroll, on likely Sunday starter, Kenny Pickett: “I love the way he prepares in practices. He looked very good in the game the other night. Escaped a little bit, got a little running in. If he gets the chance to go, that’s a good lead-in for it.” https://t.co/yX8wIGmDlj

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) December 10, 2025

Pickett replaced Smith in the third quarter of a loss last week to the Denver Broncos. Smith has injuries to his right hand and shoulder.

The Pitt product ended up completing 8 of 11 passes for 96 yards and a TD.

“I’ve seen a lot of Kenny in practice,” Vegas coach Pete Carroll said of Pickett after the game via the Associated Press. “He’s active, he’s quick, he’s really athletic, he’s a good thinker, he’s clearly a competitive guy. I see nothing but positive stuff. I’m coaching the hell out of him because I want him to be ready if the opportunity pops.”

Pickett started one game last year with the Eagles and appeared in five, after starting 24 games in Pittsburgh. He has yet to start a game in Vegas.

The Raiders enter this contest at 2-11. The Eagles are 8-5.

Slay saga

Former Steeler Darius Slay still hasn’t reported to the Buffalo Bills. They claimed the cornerback on waivers a week ago.

According to Slay’s agent Drew Rosenhaus, the defensive back remains undecided about playing again in 2025. Via ProFootballTalk.com, “Slay is spending time with his family and taking a break from football.”

Therefore, Buffalo has Slay on the reserve/did not report list.

On Wednesday, coach Sean McDermott referred any questions about Slay to G.M. Brandon Beane.

Mike Florio of PFT says the Bills could try to recover “a portion of the $8.74 million signing bonus Slay received from the Steelers as part of his one-year deal. They also could release him, which would subject him to waivers again.”

Prior to signing with Pittsburgh, Slay was a member of the Philadelphia Eagles. They also made a waiver claim on Slay, but the Bills had priority.

As a result, the 34-year-old corner may be angling to get himself back to Philly.

Related:

• U mad, bro?: Steelers media, NFL officials, Pirates front office on the naughty list this holiday season
• Mike Tomlin's 'hot seat' response has more layers than you might think

Changes coming

The NFL is tweaking the format of the draft’s first round in advance of the event in Pittsburgh this April.

The league is shortening the amount of time between picks in the first round from 10 minutes to eight. That’s according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

The goal is to get through the first round faster. As Schefter notes, those Thursday nights have been ending around 11:45 p.m. in recent years.

Two-minute warning: The NFL notified teams today that it will shorten the time between picks in the first round of the draft from 10 to 8 minutes starting with the 2026 draft in Pittsburgh.

This will shorten the length of the first round, which had been finishing around 11:45p… pic.twitter.com/yMsym354PY

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) December 10, 2025

Via his tweet, Schefter claims the league’s franchises are on board with the idea. The New York Post says the move could save an hour of real time.

Commissioner Roger Goodell started talking about making changes to the draft clock a year ago on the “Pat McAfee Show.”

More from Montreal

After a gut-punch of a loss against Anaheim Tuesday, the Penguins host the Montreal Canadiens Thursday.

The Canadiens come to PPG Paints Arena at 15-11-3. Some in Canada were expecting more of a breakout from Montreal this year. But at just one game over real .500, it hasn’t been an easy go for the Canadiens.

They are sitting with 33 points in the Eastern Conference. That’s two off the pace from the Pens and Philadelphia Flyers, who are currently tied for the two wild-card spots in the East.

The Pens and Canadiens score at exactly the same rate, 3.14 goals per game. That’s tied for ninth in the NHL.

Goal prevention has been a problem, though, for Montreal. They yield 3.55 goals per game, tied with Nashville for second from the bottom in the NHL. Only Vancouver (3.60) is worse. The Penguins give up 2.71 goals per contest, eighth best in the league.

Montreal has dropped four of its last six, giving up 25 goals in those six games.

This is the first of three games between the teams this month. They have a home-and-home on Dec. 20 and 21.

LISTEN: Tim Benz and Penguins Radio Network host Brian Metzer talk Pens in this week’s hockey podcast.