First Call: Cam Heyward’s NFL top-100 ranking; tough injury for former Steeler; update on Calijah Kancey
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Tuesday’s “First Call” has Cameron Heyward’s ranking in the NFL’s top 100. An ex-Pittsburgh Steeler suffers an unfortunate injury. A former Penguins goalie gets a new contract.
And we have new info on the injury to former Pitt star Calijah Kancey.
Where’s Cam?
The NFL Network is slowly rolling out its list of top 100 players. The players themselves vote on who they believe are the best of the NFL. The league then compiles those results and releases the list.
Steelers defensive lineman Cameron Heyward popped up in the top 50 at No. 45.
Top 100 List — Day 6:
50: DE Cam Jordan
49: CB Patrick Surtain II
48: LB Haason Reddick
47: WR Cooper Kupp
46: LB CJ Mosley
45: DT Cameron Heyward
44: WR Jaylen Waddle
43: LB Demario Davis
42: QB Kirk Cousins
41: OT Lane JohnsonRelease: https://t.co/nofbsl0BDB
— NFL Media (@NFLMedia) August 1, 2023
Heyward was No. 42 last year and No. 57 in 2021. Heyward is the only Steeler to appear thus far. One would think that Minkah Fitzpatrick and T.J. Watt will be on it at some point.
The next portion of the list will be unveiled with players No. 31-40 on Tuesday.
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Tough break
Over his three years with the Steelers, J.C. Hassenauer proved to be a useful and reliable backup offensive lineman.
He won’t get a chance to prove that in his first season with his new team. New York Giants coach Brian Daboll announced that the 27-year-old center tore his triceps during a drill Sunday. The injury will require surgery, and Hassenauer is believed to be out long term according to the New York Daily News.
The Giants had signed Hassenauer away from the Steelers in April. He played in 45 games with seven starts for the Steelers.
One door closes…
On Monday, Steelers running back Alfonzo Graham announced that he suffered a torn labrum during a recent training camp practice. And based on his social media post, it sounds like he is done for the season.
When you come out of a storm you won’t be the same person you walked in …Suffered a Torn labrum in my shoulder I promise the Comeback will be Amazing The talent I have is amazing God just wasn’t ready for the world see yet See y’all in 2024 stay prayed up pic.twitter.com/jXLWAYncec
— (@Alfonzograham2) July 31, 2023
The former Morgan State running back won the MEAC rushing title and had a strong rookie minicamp for the Steelers. So now they’ll look to fill that void with former Penn State product John Lovett. That news was announced by the XFL’s social media account. He played with the XFL’s Vegas Vipers. He had 59 carries for 297 yards and three touchdowns.
@_jlovett7 of the @XFLVipers signs NFL contract with the @steelers. #XFLtoNFL | #XFL | #LeagueOfOpportunity pic.twitter.com/aqOZFs33Kk
— XFL (@XFL2023) July 31, 2023
During his time at PSU and Baylor, Lovett totaled 1,980 rushing yards (1,803 yards and 15 touchdowns with the Bears).
Lovett, who was also with the Carolina Panthers organization in 2022, was picked out of a crowded group of candidates: Greg Bell (Detroit Lions, San Diego State), Stevie Scott (USFL, Michigan Panthers) and ZaQuandre White (USFL, Birmingham Stallions).
#Steelers worked out Greg Bell, John Lovett, Bradley Robinson, Stevie Scott, ZaQuandre White
— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) July 31, 2023
The Steelers also took a look at Bradley Robinson, a long-snapper out of Ohio State.
Filip feeling fine
Goaltender Filip Gustavsson is going to be playing in Minnesota for the foreseeable future.
According to The Athletic, the former Penguins prospect inked a deal for three years at an average annual value of $3.75 million. He also has a five-team, no-trade clause that kicks in the final year of his contract on July 1, 2025.
This means Gustavsson avoids arbitration. He was originally dealt from Pittsburgh to Ottawa in 2018 as part of the Derick Brassard trade. Then the Senators shipped him to Minnesota.
Gustavsson went 22-9-7 in 2022-23, recording a 2.10 GAA and .931 SV%, splitting time with fellow former Penguin Marc-Andre Fleury. Fleury also has one year left on his deal at $3.5 million.
Via The Athletic’s Joe Smith, GM Bill Guerin didn’t flat out call Gustavsson the No. 1 goalie going into the season, but claimed he should play more games than he did last year.
Last year, Fleury started 45 games, Gustavsson 37.
Best case
Pitt product Calijah Kancey may have escaped serious injury despite his scare on the practice fields over the weekend.
On Sunday, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers first-round draft choice pulled up during a drill with an injured calf.
Bucs first round pick Calijah Kancey was just carted off the field after going down during a drill early in Sunday’s practice. #Bucs pic.twitter.com/d3QKm2o5lC
— Dustin Lewis (@DustinLewisNG) July 30, 2023
But according to Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times, Kancey’s MRI revealed no serious damage. That said, he may be held out of much of the Bucs preseason activity.
Bucs first round pick Calijah Kancey underwent an MRI on his calf and it showed nothing serious. The Bucs may hold him out for awhile to get him ready for the regular season.
— Rick Stroud (@NFLSTROUD) July 31, 2023
Kancey was named a first-team All-American after his junior year at Pitt, totaling 7.5 sacks and 14.5 tackles for loss.