First Call: Steelers lose reserve LB; Ravens reclaim WR; praise for Minkah Fitzpatrick; Penguins part of Metro movement

Wednesday’s “First Call” gives us news of a Steelers departure and Ravens return.

We also have some more recognition for Steelers safety Minkah Fitzpatrick. There’s movement atop the Metropolitan Division, and the Penguins are involved.

Plus, it’s a busy day for college basketball at one of the local schools.

Bidding adieu to Anenih

The Steelers have lost a linebacker off their roster.

The Atlanta Falcons signed David Anenih off the Steelers practice squad Tuesday. He’ll soak up the spot vacated by Caleb Huntley who is going on injured reserve.

We have made the following moves:

- Signed David Anenih to the 53-man roster
- Placed Caleb Huntley on the IR

— Atlanta Falcons (@AtlantaFalcons) December 20, 2022

Anenih joined the Steelers on Sept. 15. He was signed to the 53-man roster after T.J. Watt suffered a pectoral injury in the season-opening win against the Bengals.

Anenih spent his first three games with the Steelers inactive. He was then waived and re-signed to the practice squad on Oct. 11. He has yet to appear in a regular-season game.

Fawning over Fitzpatrick

ESPN.com’s Matt Bowen did a deep-dive study on NFL secondaries Tuesday. And one of the categories he parsed was the “most complete safety.”

Steelers safety Minkah Fitzpatrick was deemed the NFL’s best.

“I love the tape on Fitzpatrick,” Bowen said. “There’s a physical presence to his game. And I see plenty of range, coverage ability and ball skills, whether he is playing the post, deep half or matched up in coverage. Fitzpatrick does it all. Plus, he adds a true playmaking element to this Steelers secondary. Fitzpatrick has returned one of his four picks for a touchdown while posting 74 tackles and nine pass breakups. He’s an impact safety who has also logged snaps in the slot (52), out wide as a corner (28) and rolled down as a linebacker or robber defender (60).”

Los Angeles Chargers star defensive back Derwin James finished second.

That’s a stark contrast to another recent ESPN.com post that suggested Fitzpatrick was overrated. This week it was learned Fitzpatrick received the most votes for the Pro Bowl of any NFL free safety.

Related:

• Pitt basketball alum Curtis Aiken recalls friendship with Franco Harris, how he'd want to be remembered
• Tim Benz: If Mike Tomlin says Steelers non-losing-season streak is 'little, silly' sidebar, then let's treat it that way

Raven return

The Baltimore Ravens are bringing back Sammy Watkins.

Via the NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, Baltimore claimed Watkins off of waivers on Tuesday after the receiver was waived by the Packers on Monday.

This dovetails with reports from Pelissero that Baltimore receiver Devin Duvernay may have suffered a significant foot injury during practice Tuesday.

Watkins appeared in 13 games for the Ravens last season and caught 27 passes for 394 yards and a touchdown before moving on to Green Bay this offseason. He had 13 catches for 206 yards in nine games for the Packers.

The Steelers visit Baltimore next Sunday.

Metro movement

The Penguins are part of some shifting in the Metropolitan Division. Following their 3-2 win over the New York Rangers at PPG Paints Arena Tuesday night, the Pens (42 points) jumped over New York (41 points) for third place in the division.

“It’s always hard fighting in our division. We have a tight division,” Penguins goalie Tristan Jarry said after the win. “Every point matters, whether it’s now or in March or April. These points all count. It’s nice to get them early.”

Jarry stopped 26 of 28 shots along the way. The Rangers and Penguins won’t see each other again until a March 12 game in Pittsburgh. Then they play two games in New York on March 16 and 18. Three of the Penguins next four games are against Metro Division foes, starting with a home game against Carolina Thursday.

Speaking of the Hurricanes, they beat the New Jersey Devils 4-1 Tuesday. Ex-Penguin Jordan Staal scored.

Vintage Jordan Staal.

Staal turns back the clock with this snipe. pic.twitter.com/Vl8KzeSBG0

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) December 21, 2022

That’s Staal’s ninth of the season. The Hurricanes are now atop the Metro with 46 points. The Devils dropped to second with 44. The Canes have won six in a row. New Jersey has lost six in a row.

Dukes double-up

Duquesne basketball is hosting a mid-day double-header Wednesday afternoon.

The women’s team begins play at the UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse against Howard at 11 a.m. The Dukes come in at 9-3. The Bison are 3-8.

North Catholic graduate Tess Myers is up to 41 three-pointers on the season for Duquesne. Entering NCAA play Tuesday night, that total was tied with Columbia’s Abbey Hsu for the national lead.

The Duquesne men’s team (9-3) plays in the second game at 2 p.m. Winthrop is in town. This is the last of nine straight home games for the Dukes. Their next game will be the Atlantic 10 opener at Dayton on Dec. 28.

It’s the first-ever meeting between the schools. Winthrop is in its second season under head coach Mark Prosser. His father, Skip Prosser, was born in Carnegie and enjoyed a successful head coaching career at Xavier and Wake Forest.