First Call: More updates on Melvin Ingram's trade request; Steelers' opponents face significant injury concerns

Tuesday’s “First Call” has the latest Pittsburgh Steelers trade rumors regarding linebacker Melvin Ingram III. Some upcoming Steelers foes are dealing with significant injuries. And we look at Pitt’s next opponent.

Angry Ingram

Trade rumors continue to swirl around Steelers pass rusher Melvin Ingram III.

The latest comes from the NFL Network’s Aditi Kinkhabwala on 93.7 The Fan on Monday. She insists Ingram wants out.

“He doesn’t want to be here,” Kinkhabwala told “The PM Team.” “He doesn’t want to be a part of the team. He thinks he’s better than Alex Highsmith.”

Neither linebacker has exactly bathed themselves in glory opposite T.J. Watt this season. Highsmith has 1.5 sacks. Ingram has one. Ingram’s snap count waned during the game against the Seattle Seahawks with only 17 compared to at least double that in prior weeks. He didn’t play at all Sunday against the Cleveland Browns because of a groin injury.

But if the Steelers trade Ingram, they’ll have very little depth at the outside linebacker position. Taco Charlton had 10 snaps replacing Ingram in Cleveland. Derrek Tuszka only had five.

UPDATE: Steelers trade disgruntled OLB Melvin Ingram to Chiefs for 6th-round pick

Return of the Mack?

In advance of their game Monday night at Heinz Field, the Chicago Bears are dealing with a number of injuries.

Star linebacker Khalil Mack is day-to-day with a foot injury. He missed the team’s loss against the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday. Mack has six sacks through seven games this season. He also has 19 tackles — six for loss — and seven QB hits. Mack is a three-time All-Pro and has made the Pro Bowl in six straight seasons.

According to BearsWire.com, it’s possible that coach Matt Nagy and his staff may decide to play it safe and give Mack another week off against the Steelers — prior to the club’s bye week — to rest before making his return in Week 11. That’s when they host the Baltimore Ravens.

I’m sure the Steelers would be happy with both ends of that equation.

As for running back David Montgomery, he led the team in rushing with 309 yards through four games before suffering a knee sprain. He is eligible to come off injured reserve this week. Nagy just said he “is improving every day.”

Safety Eddie Jackson suffered a hamstring injury in the loss to the 49ers. Nagy said the team will “work through it” as the week goes along. Tight end J.P. Holtz (Pitt/Shaler) has a concussion. Safety Deon Bush has to miss one more game on injured reserve with a quad injury.

Tight end Jimmy Graham has been removed from the covid-19 list.

Bad news abound

The Steelers also have games against the Minnesota Vikings (3-4) and Tennessee Titans (6-2) looming. Both of those teams got bad news on the injury front Monday.

According to ESPN, NFL leading rusher Derrick Henry of the Titans is having surgery on his injured right foot Tuesday. Adam Schefter said that Henry is expected to miss the rest of the season. He is also reporting that former MVP Adrian Peterson is initially being signed to the Titans practice squad with the expectation he will be added to the active roster.

Peterson is now 36 years old. The Steelers host the Titans on Dec. 19.

Ten days earlier, the Steelers will play on a Thursday night in Minnesota against the Vikings. They are missing pass rusher Danielle Hunter with a torn pectoral muscle. He is tied for 10th in the NFL with six sacks through seven games.

Deal with the Devils

After their disappointing loss to Miami on Saturday, the Pitt Panthers now look to bounce back against the struggling Duke Blue Devils.

David Cutcliffe’s team is 0-4 in the Coastal Division, and they are just 3-5 overall. Pitt leads the division at 3-1.

On offense, Duke has scored just 196 points. Only Virginia Tech and Clemson have fewer in the ACC. They have allowed 33.3 points per game, the most in the conference.

Panthers quarterback Kenny Pickett should have a big day. The Blue Devils yield 294.5 yards per game through the air. That is also the worst in the ACC.

The Panthers have won five in a row in the series, most recently a 33-30 victory in 2019.