First Call: Steelers OLB Melvin Ingram reportedly subject of trade talks; T.J. Watt fined for punches at ball in Seattle game

Monday’s “First Call” features a Steelers trade rumor, a fine for T.J. Watt, a sack for Bud Dupree and World Series gambling odds with a Pittsburgh twist.

Already on the way out?

The NFL trade deadline is Nov. 2, and Melvin Ingram may be one on the move.

NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport said other teams are calling about the availability of the outside linebacker. In an NFL.com post, Rapoport went on to say the Steelers appear to have “listened and engaged.”

“The longtime Chargers veteran landed in Pittsburgh this year and has yet to hit his stride. With inconsistent playing time, teams have begun calling the Steelers about potentially trading for Ingram, and it does appear the Steelers have listened and engaged,” Rapoport said. “Due the balance of just $1.075 million in base salary (the team paid $2.925 million in a signing bonus), Ingram isn’t expensive. The Chiefs have been among those on the hunt around the league for a pass rusher, and they did host Ingram on a visit before he signed.”

After flashing in the Steelers’ Game 1 upset of the Buffalo Bills and getting a sack in Week 2 against the Las Vegas Raiders, Ingram has been quiet. He’s registered just two tackles over the last three games, getting only 17 snaps in the game against Seattle before the bye.

That said, the Steelers don’t have much pass rushing depth besides Ingram behind T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith. Derrek Tuszka is next man on the depth chart and has 37 defensive snaps this season.

There was a report that the Steelers were considering former Houston Texans outside linebacker Whitney Mercilus before he ended up signing with the Green Bay Packers. Defensive coordinator Keith Butler also said Taco Charlton—signed to the practice squad in September — would be an outside linebacker in their system if he plays.

Ingram hasn’t been much for the Steelers lately, but they better have another depth pass rushing answer if they do trade him.

Watt’s the problem?

Steelers linebacker T.J. Watt got fined for trying to punch the football away from Seattle Seahawks running back Alex Collins last Sunday.

Rapoport says Watt was fined $10,815. Technically, the charge was unnecessary roughness. He received a flag on the play during the game.

Given Watt’s $112 million contract he signed this offseason, he should be able to handle that subtraction from his paycheck.

High time in Tennessee

It’s been a sluggish start in Nashville for former Steelers pass rusher Bud Dupree.

Due to continuing recovery for his injured knee, covid-19 or just general lack of impact, Dupree failed to register a sack heading into Week 7 for his new team, the Tennessee Titans.

But that changed Sunday when Dupree hauled down Kansas Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes.

Strip sack for @Bud_Dupree

: Watch #KCvsTEN on @NFLonCBS pic.twitter.com/x0Ye6bFfnw

— Tennessee Titans (@Titans) October 24, 2021

Dupree also stripped the ball from Mahomes, but the Chiefs recovered. The Titans ended up winning 27-3. They improved to 5-2. The Chiefs fell to 3-4.

Morton on the mound

Former Pirate Charlie Morton is going to start Game 1 of the World Series for the Atlanta Braves Tuesday night. He’ll be throwing against another one of his former teams, the Houston Astros.

In 2017, Morton won both Game 7 of the World Series and of the ALCS for the Astros. He’ll be opposed by Houston’s Framber Valdez.

The Astros are -135 favorites. The Braves are +115 underdogs, according to BetOnline.ag. Those odds imply a 57.4% probability that the Astros will take the series.

Atlanta was one of the Top 5 favorites coming into the 2021 season with 10/1 odds. Houston was No. 10 on the preseason odds list with 20/1 odds.