First Call: Just 1 Steeler on ESPN list of Top 25 NFL players since 2000; WR news on Brandon Aiyuk, Courtland Sutton

Thursday’s “First Call” struggles to find any Steelers on that ESPN.com list of top NFL players of this century. We have lots of wide receiver news for Steelers fans to track. Lamar Jackson had an abbreviated debut at Ravens training camp.

And a former Pirate is well aware that his name is being kicked around in trade conversations.

Steelers snubbed

ESPN.com came up with its list of best 25 NFL players since the year 2000. Just one Steeler was on it.

It was Hall of Fame safety Troy Polamalu. He was ranked 16th, five spots behind Baltimore Ravens safety Ed Reed.

Pitt Panthers products Aaron Donald (No. 3) and Darrelle Revis (No. 10) made the cut.

The likes of Ben Roethlisberger, T.J. Watt and Cameron Heyward weren’t even brought up in “the next five out” category that featured Jonathan Ogden, Larry Fitzgerald, Orlando Pace, Marvin Harrison and Terrell Owens.

Watt’s brother, J.J. came in at seventh. Six quarterbacks appeared even though Roethlisberger did not — Tom Brady (No. 1), Patrick Mahomes (No. 2), Payton Manning (No. 4), Aaron Rodgers (No. 9), Drew Brees (No. 15) and Brett Favre (No. 17).

I can understand Roethlisberger being left off the list. But I can’t understand it if Rodgers is ninth. That’s too wide of a disconnect in my opinion.

Looks familiar

For Steelers fans tracking the Brandon Aiyuk drama in San Francisco, it looks as if he is staging a T.J. Watt-esque “hold in” until he gets a new contract. Aiyuk reported to training camp and was at San Francisco’s practice Wednesday out of uniform.

He was captured on camera, though, walking with Niners GM John Lynch.

Brandon Aiyuk just walked off the field … and into the 49ers main HQ building with John Lynch. pic.twitter.com/HMl9l0ylZW

— Matt Barrows (@mattbarrows) July 24, 2024

That video is from The Athletic’s Matt Barrow who later posted on social media that Lynch reappeared at practice about 50 minutes later while Aiyuk did not.

Via CBSSports.com, by reporting Aiyuk “avoids a $40,000-per-day fine for each missed day and an additional penalty of one week’s base salary (1/18th of salary) for each preseason game missed since he is a first-round pick playing under a fifth-year option. Aiyuk is scheduled to make a fully guaranteed $14.124 million this season with the fifth-year option, so $784,667 would have been at risk for every exhibition contest he skipped.”

As for San Francisco’s star offensive tackle Trent Williams, he did not report for training camp for contract-related reasons according to a quote that Barrows passed along from head coach Kyle Shanahan.

Also on the WR front

Another wide receiver whose name has bubbled up in the Steelers trade rumor mill is Denver’s Courtland Sutton. Like Aiyuk, he’s also not thrilled with his contract.

However, it appears as if Sutton is ready to practice. He was in uniform and working on the field via video from NFL reporter James Palmer.

Courtland Sutton here at #broncos training camp. pic.twitter.com/iLKQQ1R151

— James Palmer (@JamesPalmerTV) July 24, 2024

Sutton’s salary over the next two years is roughly $13 million each year, but he has just $2 million in guarantees due. His cap number in Denver is $17.3 million this season and $17.8 million next season.

In 2023, catching passes from current Steelers quarterback Russell Wilson, Sutton put up 772 yards on 59 receptions and 10 touchdowns.

Related

• Steelers arrive at training camp armed with snacks, songs
• QB Wilson reports to 1st camp feeling a bit like a rookie again
• Late replacement Rowdy Tellez has 2 RBI as Pirates blank Cardinals for series win

That didn’t last long

Lamar Jackson had a short-lived training camp debut Wednesday. The Baltimore Ravens quarterback worked out for only an hour after missing the first three days of camp with an illness.

Via ESPN.com, the NFL’s reigning Most Valuable Player left the field midway through Wednesday’s workout, looking “weary while walking across the field and into the team facility.”

According to Jamison Hensley of ESPN.com, “Jackson didn’t look like himself in his first practice back,” splitting snaps with backup Josh Johnson.

“We are going to work him back in, for sure,” Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken told the website. “You’ll have to ask him how he feels. But he was great in meetings. When we were on the field at the start (of practice), he said he was feeling good.”

The Ravens have an off-day Thursday.

Hearing the noise

Jameson Taillon may be on the move again. The former Pirate admits that he is hearing his name come up in some trade deadline chatter.

“There’s definitely noise going on,” the 32-year-old right-hander acknowledged to The Athletic.

With a 49-55 record, Taillon’s Cubs are in last place of the National League Central and are expected to be sellers as the deadline approaches.

CBSSports.com lists the Astros, Cardinals, Orioles and Red Sox as franchises that may be looking for a rotation upgrade.

Contractually, Taillon is owed $18 million in both 2025 and 2026. In his most recent outing Tuesday, Taillon held the National League Central-leading Milwaukee Brewers to one run in 7 1/3 innings. He has a 2.96 ERA with a 7-5 record in 17 starts this season.