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First Call: Update on Davante Adams' hamstring and what the Steelers may do now that he's a Jet | TribLIVE.com
Steelers/NFL

First Call: Update on Davante Adams' hamstring and what the Steelers may do now that he's a Jet

Tim Benz
Tim Benz

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Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Davante Adams (17) misses a catch attempt against the Baltimore Ravens during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024, in Baltimore.

Wednesday’s “First Call” gives an update on Davante Adams’ health as he prepares to play a game against the Pittsburgh Steelers. We also try to figure out what the Steelers may do at wide receiver now that Adams is going to the New York Jets.

Plus, we look at a Steelers linebacker who is now a Carolina Panther, and we tell you how former Pirate Gerrit Cole did in his playoff start for the New York Yankees.

Stunning healing powers

The Steelers couldn’t land Davante Adams. The disgruntled Las Vegas Raiders receiver ended up getting traded to the New York Jets instead. Now, the Steelers likely have to play against Adams in his first game as a member of Gang Green.

That’s because the Jets play at Acrisure Stadium on Sunday night, and Adams’ injured hamstring has been magically healed just in time to suit up for New York.

Adams missed the past three games because of a hamstring injury that was probably made up entirely, or at least exaggerated so as to protect his trade value once the Raiders determined they wouldn’t play him again after his trade request.

Now Adam Schefter says he has been deemed healthy enough to play by New York.

As you might imagine, the internet had some fun with that news.

The last time Adams played against the Steelers was Sept. 24, 2023. He posted 13 catches, 172 yards and two touchdowns for the Raiders during a 23-18 Steelers’ win in Las Vegas.

Consolation prize?

With Adams coming on board, the Jets may move on from fellow WR Mike Williams. That’s according to Jordan Schultz of Fox Sports.

Prior to Adams’ arrival, Williams had been in the role of third receiver behind Garrett Wilson and Allen Lazard. Williams had only 10 catches over the first six games, for an average of 24.2 yards per contest.

And he just caught some heat from Aaron Rodgers for running a bad route on “Monday Night Football” during a loss to the Buffalo Bills.

That said, given the Steelers’ lack of depth at the position, don’t be surprised if there are trade rumors linking Williams to Pittsburgh. The Steelers expressed an interest in acquiring him as a free agent this offseason. But the 30-year-old signed a one-year, $10 million deal in New York instead.

Via SteelersNow.com, if general manager Omar Khan does figure out how to swing a deal for Williams, he’d cost the Steelers less than $2 million the rest of the season.

Another possibility is Marquez Valdes-Scantling. He was released by Buffalo after the Bills traded to get Cleveland Browns wide receiver Amari Cooper on Tuesday.

Plucked by Panthers

The Carolina Panthers grabbed a linebacker off of the Steelers’ practice squad.

It’s Jacoby Windmon. That’s according to Aaron Wilson of KPRC-TV in Houston.

Windmon hadn’t been back with the Steelers for long. He was with the organization during the preseason. However, he was waived during final cuts after the team returned from Saint Vincent College.

This move means he’ll have to spend at least three weeks on the active roster with the Panthers.

Windmon re-signed with the club Oct. 2. Windmon’s exit could open a spot for the Steelers on the practice squad. Outside linebacker Ade Ogundeji is a candidate to re-join the team after being released Monday.

More sports

• Tim Benz: Steelers need more than just Russell Wilson to fix the passing game
• Another change on Steelers' offensive line as Ryan McCollum to replace injured Zach Frazier at center
• Tim Benz: Potential Russell Wilson-Aaron Rodgers matchup illustrates Steelers' QB struggles post-Ben Roethlisberger

Ex-Buccos in the Bronx

A pair of former Pirates helped the New York Yankees build a 2-0 lead in the American League Championship Series on Tuesday night by way of a 6-3 win.

Gerrit Cole and Clay Holmes combined to hold the Cleveland Guardians to just two runs over the first five innings of the game. The most important moment of the night might have been when Cole wiggled out of a bases-loaded jam in the bottom of the fourth inning.

Cole would get one more out in the fifth before giving way to Holmes. The reliever got the last two outs of the frame unscathed. Cole finished with two earned runs allowed over 4⅓ innings pitched, striking out four batters. However, the right-hander yielded 10 baserunners — six hits and four walks.

Aaron Judge finally hit his first home run of the postseason to power the Yankees.

As for Game 3, it’s Thursday in Cleveland.

In the National League Championship Series, former Pirates draft choice Walker Buehler starts for the Los Angeles Dodgers on Wednesday night against Luis Severino and the New York Mets. That series is tied 1-1.

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.

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