The Steelers are reportedly in contact with teams about two wide receivers who are not named Brandon Aiyuk. Mason Rudolph has won the backup job with the Tennessee Titans. Mike Tomlin’s impact on quarterbacks is being overrated again.

A West Virginia quarterback has been cut in Philadelphia while a former Eagle that starred at Pitt is getting the franchise’s ultimate honor.

All that in Tuesday’s “First Call.”

This would make sense

If the Steelers can’t get a trade done for San Francisco 49ers receiver Brandon Aiyuk, maybe Houston pass catcher John Metchie III would make sense.

Bleacher Report’s Jordan Schultz says multiple teams have reached out to the Texans about Metchie. I would think that the Steelers would be one of them.

After all, Metchie had 10 catches for 100 yards and a touchdown in the preseason. A second-round pick out of Alabama in 2022, the 6-foot, 195-pounder had 30 catches for 158 yards and no touchdowns as a rookie last year.

In Houston, Metchie is stuck behind the likes of Nico Collins, Stefon Diggs, Tank Dell and Noah Brown.

Another option may be Tim Patrick out of Denver. Via Mike Klis of 9 News in Denver, if the Broncos are unable to find a trade partner for Patrick, the team will release him.

The most reliable 3rd down WR in the league before the injuries. Looked good in camp this year. https://t.co/x2VMZ29fGO

— Benjamin Allbright (@AllbrightNFL) August 26, 2024

SteelersNow.com is reporting that the Steelers have inquired about both players.

This doesn’t make sense

The Athletic has come up with a list of NFL quarterback tier rankings. It has the Steelers’ Russell Wilson as the lowest QB ranked in Tier 3, at No. 22 overall. That’s one spot in front of Daniel Jones (New York Giants) and just two spots in front of teammate (and backup) Justin Fields. Those two lead Tier 4 of five.

The QB directly in front of Wilson is Geno Smith, the man who now runs the huddle in Wilson’s former home city of Seattle.

The Athletic calls a “Tier 3” quarterback “a legitimate starter but needs a heavier running game and/or defensive component to win. A lower-volume drop back passing offense suits him best.”

“To me, he would be a (tier) 5 if he wasn’t with (Mike) Tomlin,” an offensive coordinator said of Wilson. “Tomlin is a psychologist. He can push the right buttons. However good Russell Wilson can be, Mike Tomlin will figure it out.”

Oh? Tomlin will, huh? Just like he figured out what buttons to push with Mason Rudolph, Kenny Pickett, Mike Vick and Mitch Trubisky over the years?

Just like that?

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Movement for Mason

As for Rudolph, it appears as if he has secured the backup quarterback job in Tennessee.

The Titans traded Malik Willis to Green Bay for a seventh-round pick, according to ESPN. That deal came in the wake of Willis completing 3 of 4 passes for 51 yards, plus two touchdowns to lead a 30-27 win over the New Orleans Saints.

A thing of beauty @malikwillis ➡️ @Oliver8Bryce

????: Watch #TENvsNO on @WKRN and NFL+ pic.twitter.com/2wVt2TfxBB

— Tennessee Titans (@Titans) August 25, 2024

This means Rudolph is entrenched as Will Levis’ backup in Nashville. Against the Saints, Rudolph was 11 of 15 for 114 yards and no TDs.

Willis will now be the primary backup to Jordan Love in Green Bay in front of Penn State product Sean Clifford.

West Virginia Will

Will Grier is looking for a new home. The former West Virginia Mountaineer quarterback was released by the Philadelphia Eagles on Monday.

Via ProFootballTalk.com, others released in Philly include defensive back Parry Nickerson, outside linebacker Julian Okwara and guard Max Scharping.

Grier joined the Eagles in March. He and offensive coordinator Kellen Moore had worked together with the Cowboys.

That means Kenny Pickett will still have a roster spot behind Jalen Hurts along with Tanner McKee. He’s also on their roster at quarterback behind Hurts.

Speaking of former Pitt Panthers in Philly, running back LeSean McCoy is going into the Eagles Hall of Fame at Lincoln Financial Field on Nov. 3. “Shady” was drafted by the Eagles in 2009, and stayed with them for six seasons. A two-time All-Pro, he holds the team’s record for most rushing yards at 6,792.

LISTEN: Tim Benz and and NHL Prospects expert Scott Wheeler discuss the Pens-Jets trade

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