First Call: Patrick Peterson says 49ers offense has 'tell signs,' promises pick; did Gerrit Cole once groove a pitch as a Pirate?

Friday’s “First Call” has some very interesting quotes from a Pittsburgh Steelers defensive back about the San Francisco 49ers offense.

We also have injury news from San Francisco in advance of the team’s season opener in Pittsburgh on Sunday, a status update on a former Pitt Panther standout, and another on a Steelers rival.

Plus, a weird story from Gerrit Cole that is sure to make at least a few Pirates fans agitated a decade after it happened.

Oh! Do ‘tell’

According to Steelers cornerback Patrick Peterson, the San Francisco 49ers might be giving some things away on tape in advance of Game 1 between the teams Sunday.

Based on what he said on the “All Things Covered” podcast with former Steeler Bryant McFadden, Peterson insists that the Niners have some “tells” in their offensive game plan.

And he plans to turn those tendencies into an interception.

“There are some tell signs out there that tell us what plays we’re going to get from those guys in certain situations,” Peterson said.

What are those “tell signs” exactly? Well, Peterson wouldn’t give them away. But he said he would after getting an interception during the contest on Sunday.

“When I get my pick Sunday we’ll talk about it,” Peterson said.

San Francisco quarterback Brock Purdy only threw four interceptions in the regular season last year. He didn’t throw any in the playoffs.

Purdy seemed dubious of Peterson’s assessment.

“I don’t know what to really say about that,” Purdy said to the media Thursday. “Patrick Peterson is a great player, I grew up watching him. I was from Arizona, and he played for the Cardinals. That’s the competitive nature of football, I guess. But we’ll see.”

Peterson had five interceptions with the Minnesota Vikings a year ago.

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Word from out West

San Francisco defensive lineman Nick Bosa is back with his team after holding out all summer. But he’s not practicing fully.

Via 49ersWebzone.com, Bosa did not practice Thursday, but he worked with trainers in the weight room and on a side field. He was officially listed as “limited (not injury related — resting player).”

Others who were limited in San Francisco include TE George Kittle (groin), WR Ray-Ray McCloud (wrist), LB Oren Burks (knee), S Tashaun Gipson (back), RB Jordan Mason (foot) and K Jake Moody (right quadricep).

For his part — according to Cam Inman of the San Jose Mercury News — Kittle says he is feeling “wonderful” and is “excited to play on Sunday.”

Cornerback Charvarius Ward missed practice entirely with a heel injury, and safety Talanoa Hufanga was absent due to a personal matter.

In Pittsburgh, defensive linemen Cameron Heyward (stomach) and Larry Ogunjobi (foot) did not practice.

Arrow up

Pitt product and NFL rookie Calijah Kancey is back practicing with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He rejoined the team Thursday.

The defensive tackle injured a calf muscle early in training camp. He has been restricted in practices ever since. But his inclusion in practice Thursday — with a sleeve on the injured leg — suggests that he could suit up Sunday against the Minnesota Vikings.

Bucs rookie DL Calijah Kancey (94) is practicing today for first time since his calf strain in July. Wearing a sleeve on his right leg. Bowles has kept the door open for him playing Sunday. pic.twitter.com/XziH8U5kAZ

— Greg Auman (@gregauman) September 7, 2023

Per Greg Auman of Fox Sports, head coach Todd Bowles has not ruled out the rookie playing in the opener.

Watching the Ravens

The Steelers don’t play the Baltimore Ravens until Week 5. But, as always, we keep an eye on the local club’s AFC North rivals.

One of Baltimore’s most important players, Mark Andrews, remains limited in practice. The Pro Bowl tight end has been dealing with a quad injury for about a week.

Via Ryan Mink of the Ravens website, Andrews said, “I’m feeling good. I’ve obviously taken some time off and been slowly working back in. It’s been one of those things that’s been a little tricky. But I’m feeling better running around, just day by day getting better, and we’ll see what happens.”

Isaiah Likely and Charlie Kolar are the next two players on the Baltimore depth chart at tight end. Andrews is considered day to day and stopped short of guaranteeing an appearance in the regular-season opener against the Houston Texans.

“God willing, I’ll be out there,” Andrews said. “[I’m] just trying to be healthy, get healthy and help this team win games.”

In 2023, Andrews totaled 73 catches for 847 yards and five touchdowns.

All fun and games

Did Gerrit Cole just admit to grooving a pitch while he was with the Pirates?

OK, maybe not “grooving” one. How about “pre-arranging” one?

Here’s the context.

Tuesday night, Yankees slugger Giancarlo Stanton hit the 400th home run of his career during a game against the Detroit Tigers. The homer was enough to get Cole a win on the night, his 13th of the year.

A 451-ft blast for Home Run No. 4⃣0⃣0⃣@Giancarlo818 ???? pic.twitter.com/fXgulppxh2

— New York Yankees (@Yankees) September 6, 2023

After the win, Cole told this story about a 2013 interaction with Stanton while he was with the Marlins and Cole was a rookie with the Pirates.

“Giancarlo and I caught up in the outfield in Miami going into a start. I think I was closing the series off. And he said, ‘Hey, could you just give me a fastball down the middle tomorrow? I’m just going to go the other way. I need to find my swing,” Cole recalled. “I got to Giancarlo the third time around, and, not wanting to go back on my word — or shy away from a challenge — I gave him a fastball right down the middle. But he totally reneged and clobbered it off the fish that was still out there in left-center. It tied the ballgame and I lost the win. And he just totally redeemed himself tonight, getting me that win.”

Cole, admitting he threw games while a member of the Pirates, is not the TikTok I expected to wake up to. pic.twitter.com/wx2CIOpGRO

— X (It's Football Season!!) (@Mike_InIllinois) September 7, 2023

Oh. Good. So long as he redeemed himself … now that you are both Yankees. I’m sure that makes Pittsburgh feel so much better.

In case you were wondering, the Pirates ended up losing the division to the St. Louis Cardinals by three games that year. So I guess, technically, that one result wouldn’t have made a difference.

But in my head, I’m still manufacturing a way that this outcome could have altered the course of the 2013 season and at least gotten the Pirates by the Cardinals in the NLDS that year.