In Tuesday’s “First Call,” Pittsburgh Steelers nose tackle Montravius Adams describes his on-field collision in Baltimore that resulted in T.J. Watt’s injury.

Meanwhile, a standout player for the Buffalo Bills may be coming back before their playoff game against the Steelers. Hines Ward is in the conversation for another coaching job. The Steelers are getting another referee who was in the middle of a memorable on-field controversy this year.

And Penguins fans are enjoying some angst in Philadelphia.

‘I didn’t really see him’

In my experience, nose tackle Montravius Adams is one of the most friendly, affable guys in the Steelers’ locker room.

That’s why it stinks to see trolls taking shots at him on social media for the collision he had with T.J. Watt, which resulted in the star linebacker’s MCL injury Saturday in Baltimore.

Those links are some of the least inflammatory ones I found, by the way.

Adams said the mishap is just the unfortunate result of him trying to make a play on Baltimore quarterback Tyler Huntley.

“I didn’t really see him,” Adams said Monday about Watt. “It’s literally the same play as last year when Minkah (Fitzpatrick) ended up catching an interception at the end of the game (in a Week 17 win over Huntley and the Ravens). I’m running with my hand up, getting in his vision. He threw a pick last year. This year is just, you know, a little bit different, but it was the same as that play. I didn’t really see T.J., honestly. But it’s football, and stuff like this happens. So we’ve just got to keep moving.”

Adams said he felt a collision somewhere below his kneecap and was trying to figure out how he ended up on the ground before he realized it was Watt he bumped into.

“We’re all brothers,” Adams said. “I checked on T.J. right after the game. He was in good spirits. So if he is in good spirits, I’m in good spirits.”

According to Watt’s older brother (J.J.) on CBS Sunday, Watt has a Grade 2 MCL sprain. He said, “It’s a couple of weeks of rest and recovery.”

TJ Watt injury update ???? @JJWatt says it's a Grade 2 MCL sprain. pic.twitter.com/pSSOTTdcn2

— NFL on CBS ???? (@NFLonCBS) January 7, 2024

T.J. Watt finished the season with 19 sacks to lead the NFL.

Eye on the other guys

Conversely, the Buffalo Bills are apparently leaving the light on for one of their stars on offense.

Wide receiver Gabe Davis is dealing with a knee injury of his own. It’s a PCL sprain. But NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport says it’s not substantial enough that Davis has to be ruled out of any postseason action just yet.

Sources: #Bills standout WR Gabe Davis suffered a PCL sprain that is not considered major. His status is TBD, but he has not been ruled out of anything just yet. Buffalo’s big-play WR got some solid news.

He will one of the top WR free agents available this offseason, but has… pic.twitter.com/gfdAZ38ft7

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) January 8, 2024

As Rapoport pointed out, Davis is tied for 10th in the NFL with 33 touchdowns since he was drafted in the fourth round out of Central Florida in 2020.

Davis had three catches for 171 yards and two touchdowns against the Steelers last year.

Houston for Hines?

Hines Ward’s name is being bandied about for a college football head coaching job. It’s for the vacancy at Texas Southern (FCS/SWAC) in Houston.

According to Texasfootball.com’s Cory Hogue, the school reached out to the former Steelers receiver. Hall of Fame finalist and former Houston Texans wide receiver Andre Johnson was also a rumored candidate. But Hogue says that idea wasn’t well received because Johnson has no head coaching experience.

“Sources indicate the Tigers have contacted another former NFL wide receiver with recent experience as a head coach in the XFL — Hines Ward,” according to a transcription from Steelers Depot. “Ward (was) a semifinalist for the Hall of Fame and would be a ‘splash’ hire, which sources indicate is a desire among some members of the Board of Regents.”

Ward just wrapped up a stint in the XFL with the San Antonio Brahmas. They were 3-7, and Ward was not retained as the Brahmas were part of the XFL-USFL merger. Former NFL head coach and defensive coordinator Wade Phillips took over in San Antonio. XFLNewsHub.com reported that Ward refused a pay reduction.

After five years, Texas Southern’s former head coach, Clarence McKinney, didn’t get his contract renewed. They were 3-8.

More sports

• Steelers ‘energetic’ about getting chance to face Bills in AFC wild-card matchup • Joey Porter Jr. on trying to ‘lock down’ Stefon Diggs: ‘Do my job … put another guy on the list’ • On cusp of 1st NFL playoff game, Steelers’ George Pickens refines image as unselfish player

Another celebrity ref

Last week, the Steelers had Brad Allen as the referee for their game in Baltimore, the guy who was at the center of the Detroit Lions-Dallas Cowboys controversy two weeks ago.

According to FootballZebras.com, this week for their playoff game in Buffalo, they’ll get Carl Cheffers as the lead official. It was his regular season crew that famously (and accurately) called Kansas City Chiefs receiver Ka’Darius Toney for lining up offsides on a wild lateral play that could’ve won a game for his team against the Bills last month.

Play was called back but can't believe Kelce tried this ????

????: #BUFvsKC on CBS????: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/pWMED8SAQa pic.twitter.com/LREwwhaQ1N

— NFL (@NFL) December 11, 2023

The all-22 angle of Toney's offsides makes it look even worse. pic.twitter.com/HoxK5pQQHn

— Brett Kollmann (@BrettKollmann) December 11, 2023

This is Cheffers’ 24th season and 16th as referee. It’s his 19th postseason assignment. He has worked Super Bowls LI, LV and LVII as a referee.

The rest of the crew is not yet known. Via FootballZebras.com, “crews are assigned by individual merit, rather than a crew score, to prevent lower-graded officials from getting unearned assignments or negatively affecting superior crewmates.”

Having a laugh

No doubt Penguins fans enjoyed watching their team roll over the Philadelphia Flyers 4-1 on Monday night.

No doubt they enjoyed the news about the trade that happened during the evening as well.

The Flyers had to trade former No. 5 overall pick Cutter Gautier because he refused to sign with the franchise that drafted him in 2022. He was dealt to Anaheim for defenseman Jamie Drysdale and a second-round selection in the 2025 draft.

There was no specific reason given for why the Boston College Eagles star refused to play for Philly. Flyers analyst Al Morganti threw out some possibilities on NBC Sports Philadelphia. Specifically, perhaps Gauthier may not want to play for coach John Tortorella, or maybe the Flyers wanted to sign him but didn’t want to play him in the NHL immediately this season.

Scott Hartnell and Al Morganti are digging into Cutter Gauthier on intermission live…

Hartnell: "A kid doesn't wanna be there, hasn't played an NHL game yet, he's thinking he's something else to call where he can be playing…"

Morganti: "And just think of the people… pic.twitter.com/uosa3sJNfk

— Flyers Nation (@FlyersNation) January 9, 2024

Regardless, signability for Gauthier — who grew up supporting the Penguins — has been a concern in Philly since he didn’t show up at the team’s development camp this summer.

Penguins fans were quick to point to these videos as their preferred theory.

Cutter Gauthier in 2022: My favorite player growing up was Sidney Crosby

Cutter Gauthier in 2024: Actually I don’t want to play for Philadelphia ???? pic.twitter.com/IuQlS0Acdf

— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) January 9, 2024

So… about that Penguins fandom, Cutter ???????? pic.twitter.com/hc1kYOOW6o

— Elite Prospects (@eliteprospects) January 9, 2024

Gauthier scored two goals and had a tournament-high 12 points over seven games as Team USA won a gold medal at the IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship last week. He has 13 goals and 23 points in 17 games for BC this season.

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