First Call: Ravens OC expects Lamar Jackson to play vs. Steelers; George Pickens called 'uninterested' in Cowboys' 'TNF' loss

Friday’s “First Call” has Lamar Jackson’s latest health update in advance of his game against the Pittsburgh Steelers. George Pickens was labeled “uninterested” and “disengaged” in Dallas’ “Thursday Night Football” loss in Detroit.

The Penguins face another tough opponent after a seesaw win in Tampa. Plus, we lay out the college basketball and hockey schedules for the weekend.

Lamar latest

Despite extra time off thanks to playing on Thanksgiving, Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson was limited in practice Wednesday and didn’t practice Thursday.

However, offensive coordinator Todd Monken says he expects Jackson to play Sunday against the Steelers.

Ravens OC Todd Monken said he expects Lamar Jackson to play on Sunday.

Jackson didn't practice Thursday and was limited Wednesday with an ankle injury. pic.twitter.com/TgRIV46bAj

— Jamison Hensley (@jamisonhensley) December 4, 2025

Tyler Huntley is Baltimore’s backup. Jackson has not practiced in full for an entire week since the week of Nov. 9 when the Ravens beat Minnesota.

Jackson has been dealing with knee and toe injuries. He missed three games with a hamstring issue earlier this season. Now it is an ankle.

Jackson hasn’t rushed for more than 70 yards all season.

Paying Pickens

Jeremy Fowler and Todd Archer published a long piece about George Pickens’ turnaround in Dallas at ESPN.com this week.

In it, one Steelers source told them, “He’s a child. … The playmaking is breathtaking. You can’t take that away from him. He just really struggled with the maturity part (in Pittsburgh). You didn’t know what you were going to get day to day.”

Some of those problems may have finally come to light Thursday during a game in Detroit, as the Cowboys lost 44-30. Pickens only put up five catches for 37 yards, well off his 90.7 yards per game pace.

Former defensive back and current Prime Video analyst Richard Sherman said that Pickens looked “uninterested” and “disengaged.” Pickens was also benched to start a game in Las Vegas a few weeks ago for missing curfew.

However, in the ESPN.com piece, a source told Archer and Fowler that Pickens “ain’t leaving” as his free agency approaches. The story intimated that, if necessary, the Cowboys will use the franchise tag (an estimated $27 million-$28 million) to keep him.

Don’t count on that again

On Thursday night, the Penguins somehow blew a 3-0 lead against Atlantic Division-leading Tampa Bay, yet still won 4-3.

A 3-0 advantage late in the second period became a 3-3 tie in the third before Evgeni Malkin played hero, scoring his second goal of the game.

And despite it all, the Penguins won that game 4-3. It was Evgeni Malkin who netted the game winner. Here's how the call sounded on the Penguins Radio Network, presented by S&T Bank. pic.twitter.com/WEc5h0JLhM

— Penguins Radio Network (@penguinslive) December 5, 2025

That was Malkin’s eighth of the year. The Penguins have 33 points, good for a four-way tie for third place in the Metropolitan Division, three points off Washington’s division lead.

Up next, they have a Sunday game in Dallas. The Stars have 41 points, the most in the NHL aside from Central Division rival Colorado. The Avalanche have an NHL-best 44 points.

Dallas has won five of six. The Stars haven’t given up more than three goals in a game since Nov. 8. Their 2.57 goals against average is the third-best number in the NHL behind only Colorado (2.19) and Washington (2.46).

The Stars boast Jason Robertson (36 points) and Mikko Rantanen (35 points). Those are the fourth and fifth-highest point totals in the NHL.

Robertson has 17 goals, one spot behind Sidney Crosby (18 goals) for third in the NHL.

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See the Seawolves

Duquesne gets the local men’s college basketball action going this weekend. They play at home at 2 p.m. Saturday against Stony Brook. The Dukes are 5-3. The Seawolves are 6-2.

This is the third team that the Dukes are playing out of the Coastal Athletic Association. They’ve lost the first two games against Northeastern (93-86) and William & Mary (83-79).

Robert Morris (7-3) also plays Saturday at 8 p.m. against Milwaukee (3-5). That’s after the Colonials opened Horizon League play by dropping Green Bay, 80-78, on Thursday night.

How it ended! #GRIT #HLMBB pic.twitter.com/0wLiPNU4dn

— RMU Basketball (@RMUMBasketball) December 5, 2025

As for Pitt, the Panthers welcome Hofstra at 4 p.m. Sunday. Both clubs are 5-4.

On the women’s side of things, Pitt was throttled by Mississippi State, 79-44, on Thursday. They don’t play again until Dec. 14 against Clemson. Duquesne is off until Tuesday night’s date at Eastern Michigan. Robert Morris is at Northern Kentucky at 1 p.m. Sunday.

Into the wild blue yonder

The Robert Morris men’s hockey team is flying out to play Air Force this weekend — and they do so with a little momentum.

The Colonials claimed five of six points against Atlantic Hockey rival Mercyhurst last weekend with a 3-1 win in regulation on Friday and a shootout victory after a 1-1 tie Saturday.

McKay Hayes shootout winner! pic.twitter.com/plnVVZh3OP

— RMU Men’s Hockey (@RMUMHockey) November 30, 2025

Now RMU (3-9-2, 3-2-1 AHA) battles the Falcons (8-6-2, 5-4-1 AHA) Friday and Saturday. Robert Morris has 11 points in seventh place of Atlantic Hockey. The Falcons, with 15, are in fourth place of the 10-team league.

The Colonial women (7-12-1) play twice at Syracuse (8-10-2) this weekend. They split a series against RIT last weekend.

Penn State’s men’s team is off until after New Year’s Day. That’s when they go to RIT. The 17-1 women’s team takes on Cornell on Dec. 30.