First Call: Aaron Rodgers thinks Ben Roethlisberger could be an offensive coordinator; Steelers beef up O-line
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Wednesday’s “First Call” has a Pittsburgh Steelers roster move, thoughts on Ben Roethlisberger as an offensive coordinator, and an injury update from the Ravens in Baltimore.
Plus, we include the latest in the ongoing Chase Claypool situation in Chicago.
Adding depth
The Steelers signed a big man to help address a big problem.
The organization is inking tackle Obinna Eze to the practice squad. He is 6-foot-8, and weighs 325 pounds. A 25-year-old native of Nigeria, Eze spent 2022 on the Lions practice squad last year. He was never activated for a game.
Prior to that, he was at Texas Christian University following a transfer from Memphis. He re-signed with the Lions for the 2023 season but was cut at the end of the preseason.
The Steelers are looking to add depth at tackle with Dan Moore getting injured Sunday and Broderick Jones being forced into the starting lineup. Dylan Cook was active for a game for the first time on Sunday. Spencer Anderson, a seventh-round rookie out of Maryland, is capable of playing tackle as well as center or guard.
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Retirement gig?
Based on some of his “Footbahlin’” podcasts, former Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger has come off looking like someone who could be an NFL offensive coordinator. He certainly seems to have an understanding of play calling and play design.
Let’s be honest; he was practically running the offense himself down the stretch of his career anyway.
During the “Pat McAfee Show” this week, fellow Pro Bowl QB Aaron Rodgers said that he thinks Roethlisberger could handle that job.
“I think Ben could do it,” Rodgers said of Roethlisberger’s ability to coordinate. “Just because he understands the game. He could call it in his sleep at the line of scrimmage. But it’s rare that you see great players that come back to be great coaches.”
As Rodgers pointed out, that’s usually because the ex-players don’t want to deal with the time commitments needed to be coaches or the issues trying to teach those who may not process information as quickly as they did on the field.
“Ben was like me,” Rodgers said. “Probably some of the last quarterbacks in the league who could call their own plays, whether that’s a two-minute drive or move the ball. I always loved watching him in those situations. They’d be behind by a couple of scores or in the two-minute drive. And he’s calling it. Whereas everything now with most teams is coming from the sideline.”
In the past, Roethlisberger has said that he wouldn’t have an interest in such a role.
Sounds familiar
As is often the case, the Baltimore Ravens are dealing with early season injuries but still have managed to climb atop the AFC North at 3-1 (with two divisional wins). They visit Acrisure Stadium on Sunday.
On Tuesday, head coach John Harbaugh provided some injury updates, including one on Pro Bowl cornerback Marlon Humphrey.
John Harbaugh on CB Marlon Humphrey, who's been out since Aug. 16 after having foot surgery: "I'm hopeful he'll get back this week. I was hopeful he'd be back last week. If it's not this week, it may probably be next week. He's in the range right now. So we'll see what happens."
— Jamison Hensley (@jamisonhensley) October 2, 2023
Meanwhile, Baltimore has been getting some good cornerback play from Brandon Stephens.
Most coverage snaps without allowing a TD among all CBs:
Brandon Stephens – 189
| @Ravens | pic.twitter.com/3gl8pkgXjF
— PFF BAL Ravens (@PFF_Ravens) October 3, 2023
Regarding linebacker David Ojabo, he could possibly miss the rest of the season. He is currently on IR with ankle and knee injuries. OLB Tyus Bowser (non-football injury list) and RB Keaton Mitchell (IR) will start practicing this week. That info is via ESPN.com’s Jamison Hensley.
Take it back?
The saga of Chase Claypool in Chicago continues.
The Bears wide receiver will likely miss his second straight game this week after the team told him to stay home following critical comments he made late last week about the way the coaching staff has used him since acquiring him in a trade with the Steelers last year.
Bears head coach Matt Eberflus attempted to tamp down speculation that the decision to deactivate Claypool was a direct reaction to those comments. But quarterback Justin Fields told reporters Tuesday that he spoke with Claypool, and the 25-year-old “definitely would” take back the remarks if he could.
“I think he knows that he kind of messed up by saying that, but I wish him nothing but the best,” Fields said, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. “He’s a talented player, and he’s a great person, has a good heart and works really hard. Definitely going to be staying in touch with him regardless of what happens.”
Fields said that it “stinks” not to have Claypool with the team. The Bears play Washington on Thursday night. Rumors of a trade or even an outright release have swirled around Claypool in recent days.
Claypool has just 18 catches for 191 yards and one touchdown in 10 games since the Steelers traded him to Chicago after Week 8 last year.