Thursday’s “First Call” features Art Rooney II’s travel plans for the Steelers when they head to Ireland.
We look at the Browns quarterback situation for their preseason opener and Travis Hunter’s chances of playing on both sides of the ball against the Steelers on Saturday in Jacksonville.
Plus, you can see David Bednar’s first save as a Yankee.
Art unchanged
During an interview with WTAE, Steelers owner Art Rooney II reiterated his team’s travel plans for the game in Ireland on Sunday, Sept. 28.
“The team is planning to leave on Thursday, arrive in Dublin Friday morning,” Rooney said. “So we’ll have two practices Friday and Saturday, the game on Sunday and leave right after the game.”
Rooney laid out the same agenda while speaking with Steelers.com in March. That’s a similar itinerary to the one the franchise took when it left to play Minnesota in England back in 2013. The Steelers were sluggish in what turned out to be a 34-27 defeat.
Some had thought the club might adjust that schedule after defensive captain Cameron Heyward pointed out the fatigue and jet lag issues he and his teammates dealt with during that trip. Retired quarterback Ben Roethlisberger said the same thing during one of his podcasts in May.
That’s one
Former Pirates closer David Bednar got his first save as a New York Yankee Wednesday night. It was a five-out effort in Texas as New York won, 3-2.
The Mars graduate struck out all five batters he retired, while walking two others.
David Bednar completes the five out save in a must win game for the Yankees! pic.twitter.com/X0EZmRRIIr
— Talkin' Yanks (@TalkinYanks) August 6, 2025
Bednar now has 102 saves in his MLB career, 18 this year. He blew his first opportunity as a Yankee on Aug. 1 in Miami, but has had two clean outings since.
New York is 1 ½ games in front of Cleveland for the last wild card spot. That win snapped a five-game losing streak.
Shedeur to start
The Cleveland Browns will start Shedeur Sanders at quarterback in the team’s first preseason game Friday in Carolina. That announcement came from coach Kevin Stefanski on Wednesday.
The coach also ruled out former Steelers QB Kenny Pickett and rookie QB Dillion Gabriel. Both men are dealing with hamstring injuries. Pickett hasn’t practiced since July 26.
Veteran QB Joe Flacco is not slated to participate in the game. But he did take part in the team’s scrimmage against Carolina on Wednesday.
another dime from @JoeFlacco to @g1baller @GregoryCorp | #DawgPound pic.twitter.com/Xlac2xfC5l
— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) August 6, 2025
Recently signed QB Tyler Huntley may also play Friday.
Waiting to see
The Steelers will be in Jacksonville for their preseason opener on Saturday. Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter is on track to become a regular two-way player for the Jaguars at receiver and corner.
"It's absolutely happening."
Coach Coen on @TravisHunterJr playing both sides of the football ????#DUUUVALpic.twitter.com/kPGXx8NRli
— Jacksonville Jaguars (@Jaguars) August 6, 2025
According to Michael DiRocco of ESPN.com, head coach Liam Coen “has not yet announced if Hunter will play on both sides of the ball (Saturday) and for how long, but after doing so in what Coen called a ‘mock game’ last week, it’s logical that Hunter will.”
DiRocco says the last hurdle for the Jags to clear in that regard is going through the mechanics of Hunter missing time on the sideline, for instance, when the offense meets with coaches and talks through adjustments while the defense is on the field, and vice versa.
However, Hunter managed to navigate such issues in a scrimmage on Friday and had to do so while switching jerseys. That’s an issue he won’t have to deal with in a game.
Aside from the scrimmage, DiRocco says Hunter has practiced exclusively on one side of the ball or the other. During special teams periods, however, he works with coaches from the other side, and he has rotated between offensive and defensive meetings.
On the team’s official depth chart, he is listed as a starting receiver and a second-team corner.
