First Call: Omar Khan downplays Mason Rudolph trade talk; ex-lineman has underwhelming review of Steelers guard

Wednesday’s “First Call” has some interesting observations about a new Pittsburgh Steelers offensive lineman. Another quarterback is out of a job. Omar Khan is downplaying Mason Rudolph trade rumors.

And an ex-Pirate sparkles on the mound in Atlanta.

Baldinger not bullish on Daniels

Appearing on 93.7 The Fan on Tuesday, former NFL lineman and current NFL Network analyst Brian Baldinger had a blunt assessment of James Daniels, claiming that he has “concerns” about the newly signed Steelers guard.

“He doesn’t look like the same player that came out of Iowa to me,” Baldinger told hosts Andrew Fillipponi and Chris Mueller. “To me, he doesn’t look like he has the same power now. He was a center in Iowa. I thought he was a really good center because of his movement. But then he played guard because he had good power. But I’m not sure I’m seeing either one of those right now.”

Baldinger added, “I’ve got to see it” when talking about Daniels’ perceived ability to stabilize the guard position after joining the team in free agency.

On a recent TribLIVE “Letters from Camp” podcast, former Steelers offensive lineman and current radio color analyst Craig Wolfley expressed some similar opinions about Daniels having a slow start to training camp.

As the QB carousel turns

Another move at quarterback has been made in the NFL. The Jaguars released Jake Luton in advance of the Steelers visit to Jacksonville.

Luton was 12 of 21 for 92 yards against the Cleveland Browns in Jacksonville’s most recent preseason game. He absorbed four sacks and threw an interception. In the Hall of Fame Game against the Las Vegas Raiders, Luton was 10 of 17 for 94 yards.

The Jaguars still have C.J. Beathard and E.J. Perry on their roster as backups to Trevor Lawrence. But anytime a quarterback moves you have to wonder if that vacancy is a potential landing spot for Mason Rudolph, if the Steelers decide to trade him.

No reports out of Jacksonville or Pittsburgh have made that link as of yet.

The Steelers play the Jaguars at TIAA Bank Field at 7 p.m. Saturday. Jacksonville has lost its first two preseason games, 27-11 to the Raiders and 24-13 to the Browns.

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So much for that

If there is a market to trade Rudolph, or any of his other quarterbacks, Steelers general manager Omar Khan is downplaying it.

“You take calls, but I’ll be honest with you, we don’t have any intention of trading any of those guys. We really like them,” Khan said on Tuesday’s “Pat McAfee Show. “There’s some decisions to be made, but I’d be surprised if anything happens down that path.”

Khan did admit that he had been in touch with other general managers as NFL teams began the process of cutting down their rosters. But he also added that he felt as if Rudolph, Mitch Trubisky and Kenny Pickett were all handling the dynamic of three QBs in the locker room very well.

On Monday, Fillipponi tweeted that a deal for Rudolph with the Detroit Lions may be in the works. He claims that one former general manager told him it could happen by the end of the week.

Morton mows them down

Ex-Pirates pitcher Charlie Morton spun a gem for the Atlanta Braves on Tuesday night.

He blanked the New York Mets for 6⅔ innings en route to a 5-0 victory. Morton collected 12 strikeouts along the way and allowed only four base runners.

Frozen (2013) ????

Charlie Morton strikes out the side looking. pic.twitter.com/NC78w5ZqOU

— Bally Sports: Braves (@BravesOnBally) August 16, 2022

Morton’s record improves to 6-5 with the win. His ERA dropped to 4.04. His strikeout total climbed to 153, ninth-highest in Major League Baseball. Morton got a standing ovation as he left the mound.

Standing ovation for Charlie Morton ???? pic.twitter.com/ONjKZhiPj2

— Bally Sports: Braves (@BravesOnBally) August 17, 2022

The Braves have now won eight games in a row and are in second place of the National League East, 3½ games back of the Mets for first place.