The Steelers are absorbing more injury news along the offensive line. However, lots of betting money is coming in on the Black and Gold.

A former Steelers wide receiver is looking for a new team. And a big name in the AFC North is returning to practice.

All that in Monday’s “First Call.”

Cook on the shelf

As we told you last week at “Breakfast With Benz,” Steelers reserve tackle Dylan Cook is dealing with a foot injury that has him in a walking boot. On Tuesday, he said that he was expecting to be in the boot for “a couple of weeks.”

Now, ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler is confirming that time frame — and may even be expanding it a bit further.

#Steelers OL Dylan Cook expected to miss several weeks with a foot injury, per source. Pittsburgh already beat up across the offensive line, now lose Cook, a key reserve.

— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) August 25, 2024

Cook has the ability to be a swing tackle, which seems like an important trait for the Steelers given that Dan Moore Jr. can only play the left side, Broderick Jones is enduring an arm injury, and Troy Fautanu is also out with an MCL strain.

Versatile offensive lineman Spencer Anderson is bouncing between just about every position. He has told me he is most comfortable at guard. But he has been getting more reps at tackle of late because of the injuries, including an especially tough one on tape against the Lions’ James Houston on Saturday.

Center Nate Herbig is also out for the year with a rotator cuff injury.

Related:

• Matt Williamson on Nick Herbig: Steelers 'have to figure out a way to turn 8 snaps into 20' • Feats of Strength/Airing of Grievances: Starting offense improves, Nick Herbig shines, but Steelers drop preseason finale

You gotta have faith

Steelers fans are putting their money where their mouths are.

Despite numerous questions surrounding the team, Westgate SuperBook risk manager Casey Degnon told FOX Sports.com that they have more tickets on the Steelers to win the AFC than any other team.

“Bettors seem to love them every year, but it’s even more than usual. They don’t even care who the quarterback is. Last year, we wrote tons of Steelers money with Kenny Pickett as the starter,” Degnon said. “We posted the conference markets a week before the Super Bowl. Pittsburgh opened at 40-1, and we wrote bets right away. We’ve continued to move it down, and we even took some pops at 25-1. I guess they’re betting on the Russell Wilson and Justin Fields revenge tour.”

Or they are simply betting on the theory that the Steelers can sprinkle Black and Gold pixie dust on any problem and that it will go away.

That’s a theory that has failed to pay out on the level of the Steelers winning the AFC since 2010 and failed to pay out on them even winning a playoff game since the start of the 2017 season.

Yet Degnon says the money behind the Steelers to win the AFC crown is a worst-case scenario.

 “If the Steelers win the AFC, we’ll lose six figures,” he added.

 Don’t sweat it, Casey. I’m sure you’ll be just fine.

Chasing a return

A threat to the Steelers in the AFC North is back to work.

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase returned to practice Saturday after a hold-in throughout training camp. The Bengals posted an image of Chase working out on social media.

One rep at a time.

????: https://t.co/jsfUsfbUzf pic.twitter.com/GH2esOwei0

— Cincinnati Bengals (@Bengals) August 25, 2024

Chase still doesn’t have a new contract. He is entering the fourth season of his entry-level deal. He is slated to make a little more than $1 million this year and a bit more than $21 million next year on the NFL fifth-year option for first-round picks.

He wants more money and years assured before continuing to play, but a return to activity Saturday suggests he’s not willing to miss any game action over the issue now that Cincy’s preseason is over and the club is getting set to open the 2024 regular season against the New England Patriots on Sept. 8.

Since entering the draft as the fifth pick in 2021 out of LSU, Chase has 268 catches for 3,717 yards and 29 touchdowns. He’s a former second-team All-Pro (2021) and a three-time Pro Bowler.

Still looking

One of the many wide receivers the Steelers considered to buffer the loss of Diontae Johnson is looking for another option.

Again.

Denzel Mims has been released by the Jacksonville Jaguars. That’s according to NFL Media’s Tom Pelissero. Jacksonville is where Mims wound up after the Steelers cut him on June 19.

He signed with the Jags the next day and made it through the preseason. But Jacksonville decided against keeping him for the regular season.

The 2020 second-round pick signed with Pittsburgh on the practice squad on Oct. 3, 2023. The Steelers then signed the former Baylor Bear and New York Jet to a reserve/futures contract on Jan. 17. With New York, Mims totaled 42 catches for 676 yards.

By the way, Pelissero also reports that one-time Pitt quarterback Kedon Slovis has been cut loose by the Indianapolis Colts.

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