Tuesday’s “First Call” has some disappointing news from the NFL combine regarding a potential Pittsburgh Steelers draft target. The Cowboys are massaging the franchise tag situation with George Pickens.
Plus, Penguins forward Rickard Rakell shares his Olympic opinions, and he discusses a potential move to center with Sidney Crosby injured.
Nothing to see here
For folks going to the NFL Scouting combine in Indianapolis, they won’t be seeing Jordyn Tyson on the field. He’s often been linked to the Steelers in draft discussions.
The Arizona State wide receiver is still getting over a hamstring injury. So he isn’t going to test or workout. That’s the word from The Athletic’s Dane Brugler.
Sources: Arizona State WR Jordyn Tyson won't be doing any on-field workouts or testing at the NFL Combine.
— Dane Brugler (@dpbrugler) February 24, 2026
He continues to work his way back from his in-season hamstring injury.
All Tyson will do is weigh in, interview and go through medical checks. Those will be key for him because of his injury history in college.
Tyson has dealt with more than the hamstring problem. In 2024, he suffered a broken collarbone. In 2022, he endured knee ligament tears to his PCL, MCL and ACL.
Even though he was injured in 2025, he still managed 61 catches, eight for touchdowns and 711 yards. Steelers legend Hines Ward was his position coach with the Sun Devils. ESPN.com has him rated as the No. 1 wide receiver in the draft.
Picking Pickens
Dallas Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones wants George Pickens to know that just because the volatile wide receiver is getting a franchise tag, that doesn’t mean a long-term deal is off the table.
“I wouldn’t put any timeframe (on a contract). Once you have a (franchise) tag, you have a tag. We know George is going to be here,” Jones said via The Athletic’s Jon Machota.
“We want Pickens here. We think the world of him. We love him. And I think he wants to be here.”
Cowboys EVP Stephen Jones on WR George Pickens: “We want Pickens here. We think the world of him. We love him. And I think he wants to be here.” pic.twitter.com/YhL2zDEaho
— Jon Machota (@jonmachota) February 23, 2026
Speaking at the NFL Combine in Indianapolis on Monday, Jones said there is precedent for Pickens to feel a deal can be reached beyond the $28 million franchise tag year in 2026.
“A lot of the guys we’ve tagged participated in everything, Dak (Prescott) leading the way. He played under two of them. He never missed anything. Hopefully, that’ll be the case here,” Jones added.
The Cowboys have until July 15 to work out an extension, otherwise the tag holds that number for one year.
After being acquired from the Steelers last spring, Pickens posted a career-best year, accumulating 93 catches for 1,429 yards and nine touchdowns.
Center of attention
With Sidney Crosby injured, winger Rickard Rakell (10 goals, 14 assists in 35 games) could be moved to center between Bryan Rust and Avery Hayes.
That was the indication Monday at practice according to TribLive’s Seth Rorabaugh.
There is some curiosity over which is the first and second line, but here are the Penguins’ lines, pairs and power-play groups: pic.twitter.com/7kDI9ucJRs
— Seth Rorabaugh (@SethRorabaugh) February 23, 2026
“(Center) gives me some chances to get the puck more through the middle. It creates some more things from the middle of the ice,” Rakell said. “I do feel comfortable with that. I’ve just got to work on my faceoffs a little bit.”
As far as playing with Hayes, Rakell seems enthused about the rookie.
“A lot of energy. Great shot. You’ve seen it already from the training camp and preseason games,” Rakell said of Hayes. “He’s a hard worker. Great mentality. Chasing pucks down and plays the game fast. He brings a lot.”
Hayes had two goals in his NHL debut in Buffalo before the Olympic break. He also has 10 goals in his past 10 NHL games with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.
Still getting over it
Rakell also admitted that he’s still dealing with a quarterfinal loss he suffered as part of Team Sweden in the Olympics. Team USA beat the Swedes 2-1 in overtime on Wednesday to end Rakell’s time in Italy.
That defeat was compounded by watching the Americans roll over Slovakia 6-2 in the semifinal and beating the Canadian team in the gold-medal game 2-1 in OT.
“It still hurts a little bit just seeing them celebrate after the game. Seeing their dreams come true,” Rakell said. “They deserve it. They played a great tournament. But it’s still kind of a fresh wound for the rest of us.”
Both of the American OT goals to beat Sweden and Canada were the result of 3-on-3 hockey in the extra session.
JACK HUGHES. THE MOMENT THAT WILL LIVE FOREVER. pic.twitter.com/Scbe23okx8
— NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) February 22, 2026
Rakell isn’t a fan of that format in the Olympics.QUINN HUGHES! USA WINS! ???? pic.twitter.com/WxbCRKxPiO
— NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) February 18, 2026
“I like the overtime for the NHL, but I don’t know for those types of games. It’s turned into a completely different game, and there’s so much on the line,” Rakell said. “But I understand it too. It can go on forever if you play 5-on-5.”
Rakell said for the Olympics he wouldn’t be opposed to playing 4-on-4 for five or 10 minutes before dropping down to 3-on-3.
