First Call: ESPN floats 2 Steelers as NFC trade targets; Ravens sign veteran receiver; Myles Garrett injury update

Wednesday’s “First Call” finds two Pittsburgh Steelers trade prospects advanced by ESPN. The Ravens are boosting their depth at wide receiver. We have an update on Myles Garrett’s health in Cleveland.

And a former Pirate is having a hard time in the postseason.

Selling off?

ESPN NFL reporter Jeremy Fowler used to work in Pittsburgh before taking over a national role for the folks in Bristol, Conn. He is citing two Steelers that could be of interest before the Nov. 1 trade deadline.

He’s also offering up specific landing spots.

Fowler says Green Bay may be a good destination for wide receiver Chase Claypool. And he dangled the San Francisco 49ers and the Los Angeles Rams as potential suitors for backup quarterback Mason Rudolph.

Of Claypool, Fowler wrote, “A few general managers I’ve spoken to are certain Green Bay is looking for potential receiver help on the trade market. One player who makes sense is Pittsburgh’s Chase Claypool, who multiple execs believe was available in the preseason, though at a hefty price. … The rumors of his availability have persisted for a while now, though. He’s a major talent whose production has declined in each of the past two years.”

Claypool may have just upped his stock with a seven-catch, 96-yard performance against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers last Sunday.

Regarding Rudolph, this was Fowler’s assessment. “The Steelers always have kept three quarterbacks on the active roster, but they will field calls on third-stringer Mason Rudolph if teams show interest around the deadline. Rudolph’s best bet might be as a high-level backup for a West Coast team, such as the Rams (whose passing game coordinator, Zac Robinson, was an accomplished Oklahoma State quarterback like Rudolph) or the 49ers.”

Sunday’s game against the Miami Dolphins could go a long way toward any decisions the Steelers might make in terms of acquiring picks for players. If they win, forget about making trades for future investments. The Steelers will be within a game of .500 with T.J. Watt coming back soon. They will hold on to any asset they have.

If they lose, thus falling to 2-5 with the Philadelphia Eagles looming, then that idea may feel a lot more appealing. At that point they may consider Rudolph. But I bet a lofty return would still be needed to pry Claypool away.

Sounds like a good idea

The Baltimore Ravens are already making moves to strengthen their receiving depth. The franchise just signed veteran wide receiver DeSean Jackson to the practice squad.

That’s according to agent Drew Rosenhaus in an ESPN.com report from Adam Schefter. Jackson is 35 years old and has 14 NFL seasons under his belt.

A year ago, Jackson averaged 22.7 yards per catch with the Raiders and Rams, which is the highest of his 14-year career. But he only caught 20 balls and two touchdowns.

Jackson has five seasons over 1,000 yards on his resume during his stops in Philadelphia and Washington. Baltimore isn’t exactly accomplished at the wide receiver position. Only two wide receivers have double-digit receptions: Devin Duvernay (18) and Rashod Bateman (11).

As Ravens reporter Jamison Hensley points out in that ESPN.com post, “Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson has completed just 21% of his passes that have traveled at least 20 air yards. That’s the second worst in the NFL behind New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones (14%).”

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More struggles for Myles

According to the NFL Network, Browns defensive end Myles Garrett aggravated his shoulder injury in Sunday’s loss to the New England Patriots. Tom Pelissero reports Garrett had some X-rays on Tuesday, but they were negative.

Garrett strained his shoulder during a Sept. 26 car accident. He missed that week’s game.

Garrett collected two sacks Sunday. He hadn’t had one since Week 2. Those two sacks pushed Garrett past Clay Matthews for the most sacks in franchise history. He has five on the season, and 62.5 for his career.

Pelissero said that Garrett “should be OK” as the Browns prepare for this week’s game against the Ravens.

On the struggle bus

Former Pirates slugger Josh Bell is having a rough time in San Diego.

Since being acquired at the trade deadline by the San Diego Padres, Bell ended the season hitting .192 with five homers in 177 at-bats. That was following a trade to the West Coast from Washington. With the Nationals, Bell was a .301 hitter with 14 homers this season.

In the playoffs so far, Bell is 3 for 23 (.130), with one extra base hit — a homer in Game 1 of the first round against the Mets. Meanwhile, he has nine strikeouts in six games.

Monday night in the National League Championship Series opener against the Philadelphia Phillies, Bell was 0 for 4. He had two strikeouts, including one with the tying runs on base in the bottom of the ninth inning to end the game.

The @Phillies are 3 wins away from the NL pennant.#Postseason pic.twitter.com/7Fu8mCxA2O

— MLB (@MLB) October 19, 2022

Philadelphia won 2-0. Game 2 is at 4:35 p.m. Tuesday.