Tua Tagovailoa’s performance against the Pittsburgh Steelers might get him benched. The Steelers are working out a former Detroit Lions quarterback. A former passing target of Aaron Rodgers is on the free-agent market.

And the Pitt Panthers are itching for a win on the basketball court.

All that in Wednesday’s “First Call.”

Fins down?

It was odd to look at Tua Tagovailoa’s stat line after his Miami Dolphins lost to the Steelers on Monday night. The quarterback ended up 22 of 28 for 253 yards and two touchdowns with one interception and a passer rating of 113.2.

That doesn’t look too bad.

But if you watched the game, you know Tagovailoa was junk throughout any meaningful portion of the contest.

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As a result, according to the Palm Beach Post, Tagovailoa might get benched — especially now that Miami has been eliminated from AFC playoff consideration at 6-8.

“Everything is on the table,” coach Mike McDaniel said Tuesday of that possibility.

Quinn Ewers and Zach Wilson are Miami’s other QB options.

“All positions are the same,” McDaniel said. “There’s no one entitled to preferential treatment. And when there’s a better option, it’s my job to attack that. I think there’s still a lot left in the day. … I don’t trivialize any decision I make, particularly one where someone touches the ball every play.”

When asked to characterize his quarterback’s play, McDaniel said, “Not good enough.”

Miami next plays Sunday at home against the Cincinnati Bengals.

A look at Lazard?

Another former teammate of Aaron Rodgers is available at wide receiver. Allen Lazard was released Tuesday by the New York Jets.

We also signed LB Ochaun Mathis to the practice squad and released QB Adrian Martinez from the practice squad.

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The Steelers picked up ex-Green Bay pass catcher Marquez Valdez-Scantling when he became available earlier this year. He caught a TD pass for the team Monday night against Miami.

Lazard and Rodgers were teammates in both Green Bay and New York. This season, he accounted for just 70 yards on 10 catches and one touchdown.

Given that the Steelers also acquired Adam Thielen within the past few weeks, and they are scratching Roman Wilson, a move to acquire Lazard is unlikely. But it might be a possibility down the road if the Steelers get some late-season injuries at the position.

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Who is available?

The Steelers are casting a wide net in terms of who may be available to sign down the line. According to ProFootballTalk.com, the club worked out nine players on Tuesday.

Tryouts featured two quarterbacks — Hendon Hooker and Jack Plummer. Also, tight end J.J. Galbreath was back in the building. He is a former practice squad member here.

Both QBs have been on the Carolina Panthers’ practice squad. The Detroit Lions drafted Hooker in 2023 out of Tennessee. He spent his first two seasons there and appeared in three games.

Other players PFT mentioned included tight end Colin Granger and wide receivers Johnny Johnson, Brandon Smith and Chris Tyree, plus running backs Tre Stewart and Jordan Waters.

Much needed

The Pitt men’s basketball team is in desperate need of a win Wednesday night. The Panthers have lost three in a row since their buzzer-beating win against the Ohio State Buckeyes on Nov. 28.

Following that victory, Jeff Capel’s team dropped decisions against Texas A&M, Villanova and Hofstra.

On Wednesday night at the Petersen Events Center (7 p.m.), the Panthers welcome Binghamton. The Bearcats are only 3-8. They are 0-4 away from home, having lost to Syracuse, Georgetown, Longwood and Canisius. Last year, under coach Levell Sanders, the Bearcats were 15-17 (7-9 in the America East Conference).

Capel and company are 5-6 overall. Boston College and Florida State are also 5-6, the only other teams below .500 in the ACC.

Pitt plays Penn State in Hershey at noon Sunday. That will be the team’s final game before ACC play begins.

Listen: Tim Benz and Chris Adamski discuss Mike Tomlin’s press conference following Monday night’s win against Miami

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