In Friday’s “First Call,” we have a T.J. Watt sighting at the Pittsburgh Steelers’ headquarters. A former Steeler went down with an injury on “Thursday Night Football.”
Tristan Jarry is already hurt in Edmonton. And we look at the Penguins’ latest attempt to snap their now seven-game losing streak on Saturday.
Watt spotted
We at least know that T.J. Watt has been at the Steelers’ facility. As of Tuesday, head coach Mike Tomlin insisted that he didn’t know if Watt had even been back since he suffered a lung injury thanks to dry needling treatment last week.
However, the Steelers released photos of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra’s annual visit to the facility on Thursday, and Watt was in one of the pictures with teammates.
Nothing gets you in the holiday spirit like a performance by the @pghsymphony ????????
More ????: https://t.co/LlS74VktLO pic.twitter.com/0eKTQDHZUV
— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) December 18, 2025
That said, Watt didn’t practice Thursday and hasn’t done so since his lung partially collapsed.
Not only is he on the injury report for Sunday’s game in Detroit, but fellow outside linebacker Nick Herbig has yet to participate in practice this week as well.
Dotson down
It was a rough night in many ways for the Los Angeles Rams. They blew a 30-14 lead in Seattle and lost in overtime to the Seahawks 38-37 on “Thursday Night Football.”
They also lost Kevin Doston to an ankle injury. The former Steelers offensive lineman got hurt early in the game and didn’t return.
Coach Sean McVay didn’t have any update on him after the game. According to the L.A.Daily News, Dotson was seen after the game on crutches and with a walking boot.
That’s bad news for L.A., because the Rams were already without their other starting guard, Rob Havenstein, who is on injured reserve. Dotson has started all 15 games this year for Los Angeles and was playing at a high level.
The win drops L.A. into second place in the NFC West at 11-4. The Seahawks now lead the division at 12-3. That’s the NFC’s best record.
More sports
• ‘You could feel the tension in the room’ — Air-it-all-out meeting helps turn around Steelers defense
• Tim Benz: On Aaron Rodgers and 2 very different kinds of ‘belief’
• With T.J. Watt, Nick Herbig ailing, Steelers sign Jeremiah Moon to add to OLB room
Short stint
Injuries were frequently a problem for Tristan Jarry in Pittsburgh. It didn’t take long for that issue to crop up in Edmonton.
In just his third Edmonton start, Jarry left the Oilers’ game in Boston with roughly four minutes left in the second period, leading 2-1.
Tristan Jarry has left the game for the Oilers with an injury. Calvin Pickard is now in net. pic.twitter.com/Y6nguZuzXs
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) December 19, 2025
The Oilers would eventually win 3-1 with Calvin Pickard finishing the game. He made 12 saves in relief. Jarry stopped 12 of 13 before exiting.
Via the Daily Faceoff, Jarry had a 2-0-0 record, an .879 SV% and 0 5v5 goals saved above expected in his first two games as an Oiler. That included Tuesday’s win over the Penguins.
Another try
Sidney Crosby didn’t have a point for the Penguins on Thursday night against the Ottawa Senators.
No one did. The Sens shutout the Pens 4-0.
That means Crosby is sitting on 1,722 points. That’s still one point behind Mario Lemieux for the all-time franchise record. Crosby will take another swing at No. 66’s mark Saturday night in Montreal against the Canadiens.
If Crosby can’t meet or pass the total in Montreal, he’ll try again against the Canadians at home on Sunday.
Crosby has played against Montreal 53 times. He has 70 points (25 goals, 45 assists). Six of those goals were game-winners. That total is Crosby’s highest against any non-Metropolitan Division opponent.
The Canadiens are one of the teams that added to the Pens’ woes. Montreal beat them during this seven-game losing streak 4-2 at PPG Paints Arena on Dec. 11. Montreal has 40 points, tied with Boston for second in the Atlantic, a point behind Detroit.
The Penguins have 37 points, seventh in the Metro. Only Columbus is worse at 34 points.
