First Call: Patriots QB updates status for Steelers game; Pitt alum looks to solve Cincy's long-snapper issue

Tuesday’s “First Call” has an update on the Patriots quarterback as he gets ready to face the Pittsburgh Steelers defense.

A Pitt product may be the answer to Cincinnati’s long-snapper problem. The Baltimore Ravens are already dealing with injury issues.

And three former Penguins have new places to skate.

Jones-ing to play

It sounds like Mac Jones is going to be healthy enough to play Sunday against the Steelers.

The New England Patriots quarterback needed X-rays after the team’s 20-7 loss Sunday in Miami. He has since been diagnosed with back spasms, according to ESPN.com.

Via Mike Reiss at ESPN, Jones said, “I definitely feel better, and I want to be able to be ready to play against Pittsburgh. … My back hurt. We were trying to figure out what the issue was. They did all the tests, and everything was fine.”

Jones claims the injury occurred on a fourth-quarter roughing-the-passer play. “I just kept playing and tried to work through it,” Jones said. “I’ve been hit harder before and will probably get hit harder in the future. It’s all good. … I haven’t had any issues with (my back) before, and I don’t expect any issues now. Everything is good.”

Jones was 21 of 30 for 213 yards, with one touchdown and one interception. His backups are one-time Steeler Brian Hoyer and rookie Bailey Zappe.

This feels familiar

Part of the reason the Baltimore Ravens are the gambling favorites to win the AFC North is that most people feel like they couldn’t possibly have as much bad luck with injuries as they did in 2021.

John Harbaugh’s team set a record for injury rate.

That theory is being tested already. The team has announced that cornerback Kyle Fuller has an ACL injury. So his season is done.

The Ravens also lost left tackle Ja’Wuan James to a season-ending Achilles tear in the 24-9 win Sunday over the New York Jets.

Via Ravens.com, Fuller hadn’t missed a game in five straight seasons and seven of his eight years in the NFL. Fuller missed the entire 2016 season after undergoing arthroscopic knee surgery.

The 2014 first-round pick out of Virginia Tech started the game because Marcus Peters is still getting scratched because of a season-ending knee injury of his own last year.

Related

• Tim Benz: Amid confusing reports on T.J. Watt injury, 1 thing is clear to Steelers fans
• Pitt's quarterback injuries complicate matters for passing game in transition
• Minkah Fitzpatrick fills up the stat sheet over 104 snaps played in Steelers opening win

Panther promotion

The Steelers’ good fortune is resulting in a big gain for a former Pitt Panther.

Cal Adomitis is being called up from the Bengals practice squad to be the new long snapper in Cincinnati.

"Sometimes life comes at you fast." Cal Adomitis, who thanks Clark Harris for getting him ready for LS duties "he's the best to ever do it" pic.twitter.com/VyZ3vPZp86

— Mike Petraglia (@Trags) September 12, 2022

The Pittsburgh Central Catholic product signed with the Bengals as an undrafted free agent. They let him go during the last round of roster cuts but brought him on to the practice squad.

The Bengals lost their starting long snapper Clark Harris to injury during Sunday’s season-opening loss against the Steelers. Tight end Mitchell Wilcox took over as an emergency replacement. He had two slow, less-than-accurate snaps on place kicks. One of them resulted in a block by Minkah Fitzpatrick that forced a 20-20 overtime session. The second one resulted in a shanked kick from Evan McPherson.

The Steelers eventually went on to win 23-20.

At Pitt, Adomitis was a first-team All-American selection by the American Football Coaches Association in 2021. He also was the Patrick Mannelly Award winner for best senior long snapper.

Post-Pittsburgh moves

Most Penguins fans probably caught wind of Evan Rodrigues’ signing in Denver with the Colorado Avalanche. But he’s not the only former Penguin to find a new home.

As TribLIVE’s Seth Rorabaugh noted, Carter Rowney and Adam Johnson have each signed with teams in the DEL — Germany’s Deutsche Eishockey Liga.

Rowney has latched on with Lowen Frankfurt after spending last year with the Detroit Red Wings. The forward totaled six points (four goals, two assists) while averaging 10:40 of ice time per game in Detroit.

Former Penguins forward Carter Rowney, a member of the 2017 Stanley Cup championship team, signs with Lowen Frankfurt of Germany's DEL. https://t.co/1NRRf2uLqV

— Seth Rorabaugh (@SethRorabaugh) September 12, 2022

Now 33 years old, Rowney was a member of the Penguins’ 2017 Stanley Cup team.

As for Johnson, he’s now a member of the Augsburger Panther.

Another former Penguins forward heads to Germany' DEL.

Adam Johnson joins Augsburger Panther. https://t.co/ks4BbK6Oda

— Seth Rorabaugh (@SethRorabaugh) September 12, 2022

Johnson was most recently with the Pens during the 2019-20 season. In 13 career games with the Penguins, Johnson scored four points (one goal, three assists). Johnson split the 2021-22 season between the American Hockey League Ontario Reign and Lehigh Valley Phantoms.