First Call: Latest on James Washington's trade status; changes for Steelers special teams; Penguins still have high expectations

Wednesday’s “First Call” gives us an update on the trade status of Steelers wide receiver James Washington. Changes are afoot for the Steelers special teams. A key piece of the Pirates future is on fire. And the Penguins still have high expectations.

Nowhere to run

It appears James Washington is staying put in Pittsburgh.

According to ESPN reporter Jeremy Fowler, the Steelers wide receiver is resigned to playing 2021 with the franchise, even though he allegedly asked for a trade earlier in the preseason.

But the organization appears to have no interest in moving him.

#Steelers WR James Washington does not expect to be traded at this point and is focused on the 2021 season in Pittsburgh, per source. Washington had been frustrated with his role, but barring a change, Steelers not looking to trade him.

— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) September 1, 2021

Washington may feel as if he won’t get much of a chance to show his abilities in the final year of his rookie contract playing behind fellow receivers JuJu Smith-Schuster, Diontae Johnson and Chase Claypool.

Not to mention the fact that they’ll also be incorporating pass-catching tight end Eric Ebron quite often again this season. Rookies Najee Harris and Pat Freiermuth will likely be worked into the passing game quite a bit as well.

I get where Washington may be coming from if he feels underutilized in his first three seasons as a Steeler. But general manager Kevin Colbert has every right to retain Washington for depth this year and may want to keep him next season, too, if Smith-Schuster leaves via free agency this spring.

Washington will have a say in that decision then. He doesn’t now.

Farewell, friends

One storyline to the Steelers final roster cuts is a major change to the special teams unit.

Kicker Chris Boswell isn’t going anywhere. But his holder and long snapper are.

Punter Jordan Berry was cut in favor of Pressley Harvin III and Kameron Canaday is out as the longer snapper, replaced by Duquesne graduate Christian Kuntz.

In advance of the official announcement Tuesday, Boswell wanted to publicly express his fondness for his former battery mates on Instagram.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Chris Boswell (@chrisboswell9)

Canaday, Boswell and Berry attempted 58 place kicks together last year. They connected on 53 of them.

Penguins pontification

The Penguins may have largely stayed the course after a disappointing exit in the first round of the 2021 playoffs. But gambling oddsmakers still seem to expect some heavy money to come in on Mike Sullivan’s group.

BetOnline.ag set the over-under points total at 98 ½ games for the Pens this year.

That’s the eighth highest total in the NHL and the second highest in the Metro Division behind only the New York Islanders at 99 ½.

It was the Islanders who eliminated the Penguins during the postseason.

The Colorado Avalanche have the highest projected number in the league at 110 ½.

Grasshopper goes nuts

Nick Gonzalez, the Pirates first-round draft choice in 2020, is in the midst of an amazing hot streak at Single-A Greensboro.

On Tuesday, the Grasshoppers infielder hit a walk-off grand slam to beat the Hudson Valley Renegades 9-7. It was his second grand slam and fifth homer in the last two games. He has 15 RBIs during that span.

After @HVRenegades take the lead in the top of the 9th with back-to-back jacks, Nick Gonzalez (the @pirates’ #1 draft pick in 2020) hits a walk-off grand slam, his 2nd slam and 5th homer in 2 games, to win it 9-7 for @GSOHoppers #RaiseTheJollyHopper! pic.twitter.com/6AtiZsrKwK

— Mapping the Path (@MappingThePath) September 1, 2021

Gonzales hit three of Greensboro’s six home runs and finished with eight RBIs, as the Grasshoppers beat the Asheville Tourists 19-11 Sunday afternoon.

And that #RaiseTheJollyHopper slogan is a keeper.