Pitt football notebook: Pat Narduzzi offers minor details on health of Pitt DE Jaeden Moore, OL Ryan Baer

Going on 11 years on the job at Pitt, Pat Narduzzi has a well-established record of what he’s willing to share about his team.

As it pertains to injuries, Narduzzi will be upfront about season-ending situations, often beginning news conferences to relay such information in the event a player goes down in a game.

However, other than when his players are lost for the season, Narduzzi prefers to remain tight-lipped about injuries.

So when defensive end Jaeden Moore, listed on Pitt’s two-deep behind Blaine Spires, did not suit up Saturday for the Panthers’ season-opening win over Duquesne at Acrisure Stadium, questions arose as to the Oregon transfer’s status.

While Narduzzi acknowledged Moore is dealing with an injury, he declined to offer any specifics, other than Moore is not expected to miss the season.

“I would tell you if it’s season-ending like I already have,” Narduzzi said Monday at UPMC Rooney Sports Complex. “Jaeden will be fine. It’s something we’ll work on but not going to talk about injuries. I’m not going to talk about it. … We don’t talk about it. It’s nobody’s business, and that’s how we are.”

Pitt Athletics

Pitt’s Jaeden Moore competes during 2025 offseason workouts.

Moore (6-foot-4, 240 pounds) was one of three transfer defensive ends, along with Spires (Utah State) and Joey Zelinsky (Eastern Michigan), whom Pitt added in the offseason.

Spires started Saturday, finishing with two tackles, including one for loss, as well as a pair of quarterback hurries. Zelinsky posted one the team’s four sacks.

Starting right tackle Ryan Baer, meanwhile, left Saturday’s game and did not return, replaced by Kendall Stanley. Narduzzi offered an update on Baer’s condition.

“He got a little bit of a stinger,” he said. “… Ryan Baer’s fine.”

Baer remains listed as the starter for Pitt’s home game against Central Michigan on Saturday.

Stanley’s relief of Baer got off to a rough start, as on his first snap, he gave up a sack to Duquesne’s Jack Dunkley, marking the Dukes’ lone sack of the day.

However, Narduzzi was complimentary of Stanley’s overall effort, adding context to the situation.

“I blame myself. That wasn’t his fault,” Narduzzi said. “He had a heck of a game after that first play. He hadn’t played a whole lot of right tackle. We wanted to put him in there to get him reps there because we think he’s the best (next) tackle going in.

“ … We think as coaches sometimes it’s easy to put guys in there in different positions, but he hadn’t repped that position in two weeks. Just hadn’t been doing it. … That was the only sack we gave up on the day, and it was probably a coaching error.”

Reserve LBs

Along with quarterback and tailback, linebacker is among the positions at which Pitt can least afford injuries.

The Panthers’ starting trio of All-American Kyle Louis, Rasheem Biles and Braylan Lovelace (Leechburg) look to be one of the better linebacking groups in the ACC, if not college football. But behind them, depth is thin to begin the year.

That comes as a result of two key rotational players, Jeremiah Marcelin and Jayden Bonsu, having suffered season-ending injuries before camp broke.

But as last Saturday turned into a blowout, Narduzzi and coordinator Randy Bates had ample opportunity to get reps for the next two men up: Nick Lapi and Cam Lindsey.

Lapi, a redshirt senior, has contributed primarily as a specialist during his career at Pitt, while Lindsey, an Aliquippa graduate, was a blue-chip recruit in the Panthers’ Class of 2024.

Narduzzi said he was pleased with both players. Lindsey posted three tackles and a sack, including stripping Duquesne’s Logan Kushner of the football, which safety Kavir Bains-Marquez returned 15 yards for a touchdown.

That touchdown ultimately was called back, as officials ruled Kushner down before Lindsey stripped him.

Lapi posted two tackles.

“I was excited,” Narduzzi said. “Both of them played really well. Cam Lindsey is physical. He just keeps getting better. They’re just going to continue to get better all year. Nick Lapi played 26 snaps, I think, on special teams. The guy’s a beast after however many snaps on defense. But both those guys are reliable guys that we have no problem putting in.”

Memorable day for Goff

Juelz Goff likely will remember Saturday for years to come, as, during the second quarter, he scored his first collegiate touchdown: a 1-yard rush that put Pitt up 20-6.

Goff finished the day with seven carries for 31 yards, averaging 4.4 yards per carry with a long rush of 10.

Desmond Reid will continue to be the go-to man in the backfield, but Goff, a redshirt freshman, is next on the depth chart and likely will have a role to play in 2025.

“Juelz works hard,” Reid said. “I’ve seen him from the jump. We both got (to Pitt) at the same time. He’s a totally different player than he was last year. He works hard, listens to whatever me or coaches have to tell him. He practices like it’s a game every time. (Scoring) is the result you’re going to get when you practice real hard. Good things will come to you in a game. I’m proud of him.”