First Call: Panthers may have healthy receiving weapon vs. Steelers; Ravens QB update
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Friday’s “First Call” has a health update on an important target for the Pittsburgh Steelers defense to watch on Sunday in Carolina. We also get the latest on the Ravens’ quarterback situation in advance of their big AFC North showdown in Cleveland.
We preview weekend action for both the Duquesne men’s and women’s basketball teams.
And Robert Morris hockey takes a look back at its past as they also gear up for a relaunch of the teams in the near future.
Panther on the prowl
Carolina Panthers wide receiver D.J. Moore practiced on Wednesday. After that, Panthers interim head coach Steve Wilks told the media he wanted to see how his star wideout’s banged-up ankle would respond the next day.
Apparently well enough.
Via PantherWire, Moore was listed as a full participant during Thursday’s practice. He and the rest of the Panthers are hosting the Steelers on Sunday. Moore had been considered day-to-day following MRI results in the wake of an injury suffered against the Seattle Seahawks last weekend.
He leads the team with 46 catches, 605 yards and four touchdowns.
On the negative side for Carolina, safety Xavier Woods and linebacker Cory Littleton remained limited. Both starters missed the game in Seattle.
Back again
After suffering a concussion against the Steelers last week, it looks like Tyler Huntley will be starting at quarterback for the Baltimore Ravens again this week. The Ravens are in Cleveland.
As of Thursday, Huntley has no injury designation. Usual starter Lamar Jackson did not practice at all this week and has officially been ruled out. He is dealing with a knee injury that sidelined him for his club’s 16-14 win at Acrisure Stadium.
Browns defensive end Myles Garrett said of Huntley that he “is athletically one of the top guys in the league.” Garrett also said that trying to tackle Huntley is like “trying to chase down a chicken doused in honey.”
Wouldn’t honey slow down the chicken? I’m confused.
The Ravens beat the Browns earlier in the season, 23-20. However, this game is in Cleveland on Sunday, and Deshaun Watson is the quarterback now. Cleveland is a three-point favorite.
More Steelers
• Friday Football Footnotes: Steelers’ run defense better improve — or it’ll be eaten up by Panthers’ ‘Arby’s package’
• ‘We are trying to win a game’ – Steelers don’t plan on showcasing younger players
• Steelers players take pride in defending Mike Tomlin’s non-losing season streak
Not slowing down
The Duquesne men’s basketball team is squeezing in two more games before the Christmas break hits and the Atlantic 10 Conference season begins.
After beating DePaul 66-55 on Wednesday, the Dukes (8-3) welcome Indiana State at 2 p.m. Saturday. The Sycamores are 9-2 and just had a winning streak halted after five games. They lost to Southern Indiana 88-85 in overtime on Sunday.
Coach Josh Schertz’s team is averaging 83.3 points per game, 18th best in the county.
Meanwhile, Keith Dambrot’s Dukes are coming off of their best defensive performance of the year, holding the Blue Demons to just 55 points. It was the lowest scoring output of the season for a Duquesne opponent and the worst offensive performance of the year by DePaul.
Temple time
As for the Duquesne women’s hoops team, they are heading out the turnpike to Philadelphia.
Dan Burt’s Dukes are 8-2 to start the year. The Owls are 4-6. Duquesne averages 41.9 rebounds per game. That’s the best average per game of any team in the Atlantic 10. Guard Megan McConnell has seven games (four straight) with 10 or more rebounds this season.
With a 55-54 win over Vermont in their last game, Burt became the all-time wins leader at Duquesne with 177. The Dukes’ 8-2 start to the season is the best since 2017-18.
Best of the bunch
As the Robert Morris hockey teams look toward their reinstatement next year, they are also reminding fans of their past.
The University announced its all-time men’s hockey team Thursday.
Over 1,000 ballots were submitted and helped decide the team which consists of 10 forwards, five defenseman and two goalies.
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NEWS: RMU Announces Men's All-Time Team
: https://t.co/7xyFQaPOnG
: https://t.co/YTvXvNd8Ll
: https://t.co/41umK53lgz
: https://t.co/X86vzKYb7T#BobbyMo | | #RMUnite pic.twitter.com/mqzMEMA2NU— RMU Men’s Hockey (@RMUMHockey) December 15, 2022
Two of those nominees are from Pittsburgh. Zac Lynch is from Shaler and Denny Urban is from Whitehall. Lynch and forward Cody Wydo were also recently named to the Atlantic Hockey Hall of Honor.
The women’s team was released as well.
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NEWS: Colonials Release All-Time Team
: https://t.co/BE44Hmrtx6
: https://t.co/gPPqP1UXYI
: https://t.co/ih6tm85Xut
: https://t.co/9fioGHA1yH#BobbyMo | | #RMUnite pic.twitter.com/6MFhRgm3vB— RMU Women's Hockey (@RMUWHockey) December 15, 2022
Brianne McLaughlin was the first Colonial to compete in the Olympic Games. She was a two-time All-CHA First Team selection and is the NCAA DI all-time career saves leader (3,782). She has also been an assistant coach with Colonials and is part of the Pittsburgh College Hockey Foundation.