First Call: Ex-NFL GM says Matt Canada not qualified to be coordinator; injury news for next 2 Steelers opponents
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Thursday’s “First Call” has some damning quotes about Steelers offensive coordinator Matt Canada from an ex-NFL general manager with Pittsburgh ties.
More tough injury news for Nick Chubb. Las Vegas receiver Davante Adams, who is preparing to play the Steelers on Sunday night, isn’t happy about the blow to the head he received last week.
And the quarterback the Steelers will face next week in Houston appears to be on the mend.
How do you really feel?
Former Steelers front office member and ex-Bills general manager Doug Whaley (Pitt/Upper St. Clair) isn’t mincing words when it comes to his evaluation of Steelers offensive coordinator Matt Canada.
“The biggest problem for the offense is, in my opinion — we already know. The coordinator. I’ve been on record since he got hired with that one,” Whaley said while making his weekly appearance on 93.7 The Fan.
“He did have a great year (2016) at Pitt, but he didn’t do anything (in college football) since then, and he definitely didn’t do anything in the pros, alright? So you get a young mobile quarterback and it’s still the same thing. … So point being, he’s not qualified.”
As I’ve said repeatedly about Canada, he’s not doing well, and I would’ve replaced him this offseason. But any conversation about the offense that is limited to being just about Canada is missing possibilities as to why the rest of the offense is struggling.
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Chubb’s challenge
Nick Chubb’s leg injury against the Steelers was ugly to watch. Now we are hearing the extent to which doctors may have to go to fix his left knee.
CBS Sports’ Josina Anderson is reporting “preliminary talk” is that the Pro Bowl running back may need two surgeries on his left knee to fully repair the damage. Anderson is stating that the initial procedure will happen within 10 days. The second operation would follow “several weeks after.”
According to ESPN.com’s Jake Trotter, Chubb ”suffered multiple tears in his knee.” It’s the same knee that Chubb injured back in 2015.
In an effort to offset Chubb’s absence, the Cleveland Browns reacquired Kareen Hunt on a one-year, $4 million contract.
Browns signing RB Kareem Hunt to 1-year deal worth up to $4M. (via @tompelissero, @rapsheet) pic.twitter.com/Z4t5RKplhj
— NFL (@NFL) September 20, 2023
Hunt had 678 yards from scrimmage with the Browns a year ago. He had 1,145 as recently as 2020.
Venting
The Steelers visit Las Vegas on Sunday. And it appears that they will have to face Davante Adams.
The star wide receiver was a full participant in Wednesday’s practice, despite taking a heavy blow to the head during last week’s 38-10 loss to the Buffalo Bills.
It was safety Taylor Rap that hit Adams. And the three-time All-Pro was not appreciative of the play.
“Was it unnecessary? Completely, obviously,” Adams said via 8-News Now (CBS) in Las Vegas. “Certain players play a certain way too. Some people (are) out of control. They fly around. They don’t really have much (of a) true purpose. I mean, playing a half field on one side, you run over and hit somebody in the head on the other side of the field? That’s the kind of stuff that contributes to you not being on the field. That’s why you’re in when you’re blowing us out by 25 at the end of the game. Maybe if that man learns how to play the game the right way, he’ll see the field. Until then, he’ll have to go and live off of plays like that, I guess.”
"Maybe if that man learns how to play the game the right way…he won't have to live off of plays like that."
-Davante Adams calls hit from #Bills Taylor Rapp "unnecessary"
The hit put him in concussion protocol.#RaiderNation pic.twitter.com/3JXkGgCsCM
— Logan Reever (@loganreever) September 20, 2023
Meanwhile, another concussed Raiders receiver, Jakobi Meyers, was listed as limited for Wednesday’s practice.
Looking ahead
Next week, the Steelers face the Houston Texans. And, already, there are some injury concerns swirling around first-round draft choice C.J. Stroud.
The rookie quarterback was limited on Wednesday’s practice report. He’s dealing with a right shoulder injury. This goes back to last Friday when he appeared on the report with shoulder soreness.
But on Wednesday the ex-Ohio State Buckeye said he feels “almost 100%.”
“I feel good. Football is a physical sport. It’s what I signed up for, but my body is fine. I feel all right,” Stroud said via ProFootballTalk.com.
Also, according to PFT, linebacker Denzel Perryman (hand/wrist) and safety Jalen Pitre (chest) did not practice. Cornerback Tavierre Thomas (hand) is expected to miss the next two weeks. Left tackle Laremy Tunsil (knee) is limited.