First Call: Steelers work out 4 long snappers; Carolina won't play starters vs. Pittsburgh in final preseason game

The Pittsburgh Steelers are checking out options at long snapper. We know Carolina’s playing-time strategy for the preseason finale against the Steelers on Thursday. Both Ohio teams in the AFC North were in the headlines over the weekend.

And a wide receiver is on the move in the NFL, but he isn’t coming to Pittsburgh.

All that in Monday’s “First Call.”

Longing for help

In the wake of Christian Kuntz’s injury, the Steelers are looking for help at the long snapper position. According to Aaron Wilson of KPRC2-TV in Houston, they worked out Rick Lovato, Jake McQuaide, Taybor Pepper and Patrick Scales.

McQuaide is 37 and has 14 years of NFL experience, including two Pro Bowl seasons with the Los Angeles Rams in 2016-17. He was with Miami and Minnesota for seven games last season.

Lovato got a Super Bowl ring in Philadelphia last year. He had been there since 2016. The 32-year-old made the 2019 Pro Bowl.

Pepper was with the Steelers on a tryout in May. The 31-year-old spent the past five years with San Francisco, logging 80 games. He also has 20 under his belt with the Green Bay Packers and the Detroit Lions.

The 37-year-old Scales didn’t snap at all last year. He was in Chicago from 2015-23.

Kuntz suffered a chest injury during the Steelers’ preseason loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Saturday night. Mike Tomlin tamped down some concerns when he said they heard “good news” about Kuntz’s medical reports after the game.

But, if Kuntz can’t suit up Thursday against the Carolina Panthers, the Steelers probably don’t want to attempt getting by with defensive lineman Logan Lee at long snapper against even if it is just the preseason finale.

Sleeping cats

Don’t expect to see many of the starters for the Panthers in that game Thursday. That’s the word from head coach Dave Canales via Mike Kaye of the Charlotte Observer.

Starters won’t play next week, per Canales.

"I don't feel good about our execution of the basics." #Panthers

— Mike Kaye (@mike_e_kaye) August 16, 2025

Carolina lost 20-3 in a preseason game Saturday at Houston. They also dropped a 30-10 decision to the Cleveland Browns on Aug. 8.

“I feel great about our conditioning level. I feel great about the physicality of play. I don’t feel great about our execution of the basics because it’s not showing up consistently for us,” Canales said after the loss in Houston, according to a Panthers postgame transcript.

It sounds like the coach is prioritizing practice time this week as opposed to preseason game action.

“We have two really important practices before we go into Pittsburgh. The starters will not play this upcoming week. Those practices become so valuable because it’s the last time we have this whole group together and we’re able to get the intensities that we want going into the season.”

One player the Steelers might see from Carolina is Bryce Perkins. He is the reigning UFL MVP. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports he just signed a contract in Charlotte. Bryce Young apparently will sit with the rest of the starters, and Andy Dalton has an injured elbow.

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AFC North notes

Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network is reporting that the Cincinnati Bengals are listening to trade offers for All-Pro pass rusher Trey Hendrickson. Contract negotiations between the two parties have been stagnant for months, and a trade may be forthcoming as a result.

With contract talks at an impasse, the #Bengals are listening to trade offers for perennial Pro Bowler Trey Hendrickson, per me & @TomPelissero.

It's unclear if the NFL sack leader will be playing elsewhere in 2025, and a trade will be a real challenge. But time will tell. pic.twitter.com/WaFX601ew2

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) August 17, 2025

Hendrickson led the NFL in sacks last year with 17.5.

Meanwhile, according to Cleveland.com, Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski told reporters Sunday that he will announce his starting quarterback for the regular season opener against the Bengals this week.

Stefanski claims he wants to speak to Joe Flacco, Kenny Pickett, Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders before revealing the decision.

Flacco has been held out of both Cleveland’s preseason games. Pickett has been injured with a bad hamstring. Sanders started the first preseason game against Carolina and played well, but he didn’t participate in the second game versus Philadelphia because of an oblique injury.

Gabriel started that game and went 13 of 18 for 143 yards, no touchdowns and an interception as the Browns won 22-13, with Tyler Huntley going 10 of 13 for 71 yards in relief.

Wrong end of the turnpike

A potential wide receiver trade target for the Steelers is off the market. John Metchie went from Houston to Philadelphia on Sunday.

Full trade:

????Texans receive: TE Harrison Bryant and a 5th-round pick.

????Eagles receive: WR John Metchie and a 6th-round pick.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) August 17, 2025

Metchie had been a rumored trade candidate for the Steelers a year ago when they were looking to replace Diontae Johnson. Now they are trying to bolster the depth chart with numbers after trading George Pickens to Dallas.

Last year in Houston, Metchie had 24 receptions for 254 yards and a touchdown.