First Call: Steelers work out WR/KR; Falcons get boost in advance of opener

Tuesday’s “First Call” begins with a Pittsburgh Steelers workout of interest. The team’s opponent for the regular season opener got some good news.

Paul Skenes is getting ready to see the Chicago Cubs yet again. And Duquesne got a good look at its next football opponent during a nationally televised upset.

Still searching

With the wide receiver room being as thin as it is, we shouldn’t be surprised at any name the Steelers check out to help the depth. The latest is former Jacksonville Jaguar Jamal Agnew.

According to the NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, Agnew got a workout from the Steelers on Monday.

From the wire:#Saints worked out a group of veteran receivers including John Ross. Noimmediate signing.#Steelers worked out WR Jamal Agnew.#Colts worked out nine players, including RB Leonard Fournette. They signed DB David Long.

— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) September 2, 2024

Agnew is mainly a kick returner though. So this may be a move with insurance in mind should Cordarrelle Patterson get hurt.

Over seven seasons as a Jaguar and a Detroit Lion, Agnew has 77 catches for 746 yards and five touchdowns. The 29-year-old has averaged 10.3 yards per punt return during that time and 25.5 kick-return yards. He can boast four punt return touchdowns and two kick return touchdowns.

Seeing Simmons

It sounds like Justin Simmons will be in uniform for the Atlanta Falcons against the Steelers for Week 1.

The free-agent safety was signed by Atlanta during the late stages of training camp. He went through his first full practice with the franchise on Monday. It sounds like he is ready to go for Sunday’s game.

“He did everything full today,” Falcons coach Raheem Morris said via the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “He’s a full-go status. I think it was the first time. … He did everything today.”

Simmons also spoke as if he is planning to play Sunday, telling the paper, “Come Sunday, I’m just looking forward to letting loose and playing good ball. … Finding ways to contribute to the team and help them win.”

The 30-year-old defensive back signed a one-year contract worth $7.5 million guaranteed on Aug. 15. He has been ramping up physical activity since then.

A third-round pick out of Boston College in 2016, Simmons was released after eight seasons in Denver. He made the Pro Bowl in 2022 and 2023.

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So, we meet again

Paul Skenes’ 18th start is about to occur Tuesday night. It’ll be against the Chicago Cubs. It’ll already be the fourth time that the rookie has faced the Pirates’ National League Central Division rival.

In Skenes’ first three outings against the Cubs, the Pirates have won two of those games. Skenes is 1-0, having allowed five earned runs in 15 innings for an ERA of 3.00. He has totaled 24 strikeouts while allowing four walks and 11 hits. In each of those three games, Skenes has left with the Pirates leading.

However, in two of those games, the bullpen has been a disaster after Skenes left. When the two clubs faced each other last week at PNC Park, the Pirates’ bullpen yielded 11 runs after Skenes’ departure. In his Major League Baseball debut, Skenes left with a 6-1 lead, only to see the Cubs go ahead before Pittsburgh won 10-9.

In his lone appearance at Wrigley Field this season, Skenes was dominant, pitching six no-hit innings and striking out 11 during his second MLB appearance.

Paul Skenes is on pace to strikeout 27 today ...

Six batters, six strikeouts. ???? pic.twitter.com/obSuXLYdeq

— MLB (@MLB) May 17, 2024

The Cubs will counter with Kyle Hendricks. He is 3-10 with a 6.75 ERA. The 34-year-old has also started three times against the Pirates in 2024. He is 0-1 with 14 earned runs allowed in 11 1/3 innings pitched.

Difficult for the Dukes

The Duquesne football team knew from the moment the deal happened that it would be facing a difficult challenge when it scheduled Boston College as an opponent. Whenever an FCS school schedules up to face an FBS foe it’s an incredibly challenging task.

Especially when that FBS foe is in a power conference like the ACC.

After Monday night, the mission for coach Jerry Schmitt’s Dukes looks even more daunting. That’s because B.C. went to Tallahassee and upset 10th-ranked Florida State, 28-13, on ESPN.

The Eagles racked up 263 rushing yards and held onto the ball for more than 39 minutes.

Number one for Number One.

???? @ESPN#EarnIt pic.twitter.com/j0JBLXSNla

— Boston College Football (@BCFootball) September 3, 2024

Monday night’s victory was the first game as head coach of Boston College for former Penn State coach Bill O’Brien. Since leaving Happy Valley in 2013, he has been the head coach of the Houston Texans and the offensive coordinator for the New England Patriots and Alabama Crimson Tide.

The Dukes’ first game was also against an FBS school. They lost 49-10 to Toledo on Thursday.