First Call: Strong preseason debuts for Justin Fields, Russell Wilson, Mitch Trubisky; ex-Steeler DB now a Raider
Monday’s “First Call” has a roundup of how ex-Pittsburgh Steelers Justin Fields, Russell Wilson and Mitch Trubisky did quarterbacking their teams in the first week of the 2025 preseason.
We also get you up to date on some player movement involving a few former Steelers, and the Pirates visit Milwaukee to play the best team in Major League Baseball.
Brew Crew is booming
After going 3-4 during their seven-game homestand against the Cincinnati Reds and San Francisco Giants, the Pirates now have to head to Milwaukee to challenge the division-leading Brewers.
Not only is Milwaukee atop the National League Central at 73-44, they have the best record (.624) in Major League Baseball. On Sunday, Isaac Collins hit a solo homer off Mets closer Edwin Diaz in the ninth inning to push the Brewers to a 7-6 walk-off victory.
COMEBACK COMPLETE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! https://t.co/LJjgLXySmQ pic.twitter.com/vsK3hkkyfO
— Milwaukee Brewers (@Brewers) August 10, 2025
It was the Brewers’ ninth win in a row. At one point, they were losing 5-0. That was Collins’ eighth homer of the year.
Former Pirate Quinn Priester got touched up as the Brewers starter. He allowed six runs on 10 hits. So he won’t be pitching versus the Pirates during this series.
Milwaukee will send former Pirate Jose Quintana (9-4, 3.57) to the mound Monday. Freddy Peralta (13-5, 3.03 ERA) pitches Tuesday. Brandon Woodruff (4-0, 2.29) is slated to pitch on Wednesday afternoon.
The Pirates counter with Andrew Heaney (5-9, 4.77), Paul Skenes (7-8, 1.94) and Mitch Keller (5-10, 3.86).
Pittsburgh split a four-game series against the Brewers at PNC Park in May. They dropped two of three in Milwaukee in June.
More sports
• Madden Monday: Kaleb Johnson 'would still be my guy' despite underwhelming debut
• 'Bet on it': Pirates GM confident Bubba Chandler will make MLB debut this season
• Feats of Strength: Stellar QBs, kicking game, depth playmakers lead Steelers to preseason win
Fine start for Fields
Justin Fields scored a touchdown in his only series of the game while leading the New York Jets offense for the first time in the preseason.
The former Steeler ran for a TD after completing 3 of 4 passes for 42 yards.
Justin Fields takes it himself for the TD!
Watch on @NFLNetwork
Stream on @NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/l9O1KsfFHy— NFL (@NFL) August 10, 2025
New York ended up winning that game 30-10.
Meanwhile, Russell Wilson was efficient, although not spectacular, during a game-opening scoring drive for the New York Giants against Buffalo. The 36-year-old Wilson completed six of his seven passes en route to a 12-play field goal drive. But he totaled just 28 yards passing.
Every Russell Wilson throw from his preseason debut with the #NYGiants pic.twitter.com/0a0r9auc5e
— awthentik (@awthentik) August 9, 2025
Wilson’s backup, rookie Jaxson Dart, finished 12 of 19 for 154 yards. He tossed a 29-yard touchdown pass to Lil’Jordan Humphrey and added three carries for 24 yards.
Every completion from Jaxson Dart's pro debut. pic.twitter.com/GbuRlzJpMh
— NFL (@NFL) August 9, 2025
Another ex-Steeler, Mitch Trubisky, was 9 of 13 for 138 yards and a TD pass for Buffalo. New York ended up winning that game 34-25.
Another stop
A former Steelers first-round pick is latching on with yet another team.
Terrell Edmunds is now a Raider. Las Vegas signed the 28-year-old safety on Sunday.
Since leaving Pittsburgh in 2022, Edmunds has been with Philadelphia, Tennessee, Jacksonville, the Steelers again, and the Los Angeles Chargers.
Edmunds combined to play in six games with the Jags and Steelers last year. Lonnie Johnson Jr. suffered a broken leg earlier this month, thus creating a need for a safety in Vegas.
Also over the weekend, the Chicago Bears worked out former Steelers running back Aaron Shampklin, and the Dallas Cowboys inked ex-Steelers lineman Nick Broeker.
So much for that
It was a brief attempt for Levi Wallace in his bid to make the Jacksonville Jaguars.
The former Steeler was supposed to play against his former team Saturday night. But he was placed on injured reserve with an undisclosed ailment.
Wallace had just signed in Jacksonville on Aug. 3. The cornerback intercepted six passes in two seasons (2022-23) while playing 31 games in Pittsburgh. He spent the first four years of his career in Buffalo and last season in Denver.
It’s unclear what is next for the 30-year-old from Alabama. He might get an injury settlement so he can be released. That would make him a free agent, or he could go on season-ending IR.
The Jags re-signed Aydan White to replace Wallace on the roster.
Tim Benz is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Tim at tbenz@triblive.com or via X. All tweets could be reposted. All emails are subject to publication unless specified otherwise.
Remove the ads from your TribLIVE reading experience but still support the journalists who create the content with TribLIVE Ad-Free.