The Pittsburgh Steelers’ next opponent is dealing with issues on and off the field. A former Steelers linebacker wants to make a comeback after some recent trouble in his personal life. The first college basketball poll of the season is out.

And a Duquesne football star is getting some recognition.

All that in Tuesday’s “First Call.”

Wondering about Williams

As the Steelers prepare for their trip to Los Angeles for Sunday’s game against the Rams, they may be catching a break on the injury front.

At least from the other team.

According to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com, Kyren Williams is likely out with an ankle injury. He was hurt at some point during Sunday’s 26-9 win over the Arizona Cardinals. But the running back rushed for a career-high 158 yards and a touchdown during the game.

Have a day @Kyrenwilliams23! Findin' the endzone for 6️⃣!

???? @NFLonFOX pic.twitter.com/Tu5xtPVb3O

— Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) October 15, 2023

The injury isn’t believed to be long term, but Schefter says it’ll likely keep him out this week.

Williams’ backup, Ronnie Rivers, also injured his knee early in the second half of Sunday’s game. That means L.A. might be down to Zach Evans as the starter. The rookie sixth-round pick out of Mississippi got the first four carries of his career in that win over the Cardinals and totaled 10 yards.

Off the field too

The Rams are dealing with some off-the-field matters, as well. Starting cornerback Derion Kendrick was arrested early Monday morning. He’s facing gun possession charges.

The arrest came at 2:14 a.m., in the hours after L.A. beat the Cardinals.

According to TMZ, Kendrick was pulled over for a minor traffic violation. Police found marijuana and a gun. He faces a felony charge of carrying a concealed weapon.

The team is aware of the situation. Rams head coach Sean McVay confirmed as much to the media Monday afternoon and said the franchise is “gathering more information.” There’s no word yet on potential league or team discipline.

This is Kendrick’s second NFL season. He became a starter in Week 3 of 2022 and has started all six games for L.A. this season. Drafted out of Georgia, Kendrick transferred there after being dismissed from Clemson in February 2021.

So far this season, he has 25 tackles (two for a loss) and three passes defended. Kendrick (386) and former Steeler Ahkello Witherspoon (383) have the most snaps at cornerback this season in L.A. Cobie Durant is next at 298, followed by Duke Shelley (17) and Tre’Vius Tomlinson (13).

More sports

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Looking for a return?

Former Steeler Anthony Chickillo says that he is attempting a comeback.

“Today is the first day of training for my @nfl comeback! God speed!” Chickillo posted on Instagram.

The ex-NFL linebacker was drafted by the Steelers in 2015. He played in Pittsburgh for five years, before joining the New Orleans Saints practice squad. From there, he played 11 games with the Denver Broncos before retiring in July 2021.

This news comes in the wake of Chickillo being involved in a police incident earlier this month. He was tased by police officers at a hospital in Florida after what was described as a “medical situation” by his girlfriend. Via TMZ, she blamed the incident on Chickillo’s “bipolar disorder caused by a concussion that he suffered during his playing days.”

The TMZ story said Chickillo was placed on a 72-hour psychiatric hold. The website claims Chickillo was at the Hialeah Hospital in Hialeah, Fla. on Oct. 5 when witnesses say he “suddenly snapped and began ‘trashing’ an office, breaking things, throwing chairs, and trying to attack everybody,” before his father tried to subdue him and officers arrived.

Chickillo also faced an assault charge in 2019, which was eventually dropped when his girlfriend refused to press charges.

Three for the ACC

The preseason AP men’s basketball poll is out. Kansas is No. 1 followed by Duke, Purdue, Michigan State and Marquette in the Top 5.

Pitt, Duquesne and Robert Morris are unranked.

Three of the Panthers’ ACC rivals showed up on the inaugural 2023-24 list. Along with second-ranked Duke, Miami is rated No. 13 and North Carolina is No. 19. Virginia also received votes.

Via the ACC website, the preseason ranking marks the 17th time in which Duke has debuted in the top three in the AP preseason poll. Coming off the program’s first-ever trip to the Final Four, Miami’s No. 13 ranking ties the Hurricanes’ highest preseason ranking in program history. UNC is ranked in the AP preseason poll for the 54th time in program history, which is second most of any program.

The SEC has the most rated teams with five.

Talkin’ Taj

Duquesne (3-3) running back Taj Butts is the Northeast Conference Offensive Player of the Week for Week 7. He ran for 118 yards and scored three touchdowns in Saturday’s 44-20 win over Central Connecticut State.

Two of those scores came in the red zone, one on a pass reception. The other one was a 58-yard romp.

HE CAN’T STOP SCORING‼️

Taj Butts breaks free for a 58-yard touchdown, his third TD of the game!#GoDukes pic.twitter.com/s8O3T9CLwv

— Duquesne Football (@DuqFB) October 14, 2023

Taj Butts AGAIN!

Battles through tacklers for his second TD of the day. #GoDukes pic.twitter.com/u0bH71oYrw

— Duquesne Football (@DuqFB) October 14, 2023

First drive back home ends in a TOUCHDOWN‼️

7️⃣-0️⃣ Dukes early.#GoDukes pic.twitter.com/KDdzzu2Jis

— Duquesne Football (@DuqFB) October 14, 2023

Butts, a transfer from Missouri, leads the Dukes with 350 yards rushing this season. He was also named a weekly “Prime Performer” by the NEC, along with teammates Darius Perrantes and Teddy Afful.

Perrantes, a junior quarterback from Los Angeles, threw for a season-high 265 yards and three touchdowns in the win. Afful had a career day with five catches for 135 yards and a touchdown. That was his first career 100-yard game and the most receiving yards in a game this season by any Dukes pass catcher.

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