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First Call: Raiders unsure of QB before hosting Steelers; Browns sticking with Deshaun Watson | TribLIVE.com
Steelers/NFL

First Call: Raiders unsure of QB before hosting Steelers; Browns sticking with Deshaun Watson

Tim Benz
Tim Benz
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AP
Browns defensive end Myles Garrett sacks Raiders quarterback Gardner Minshew in their Sept. 29 game in in Las Vegas.

Monday’s “First Call” looks at the quarterback situation in Las Vegas as the Pittsburgh Steelers prepare for a trip out there to play the Raiders next weekend. We also have locker-room reaction from both the Bengals’ and Browns’ coaches after painful losses Sunday.

There are some NHL roster moves of note, and the Robert Morris women’s hockey team is off to a hot start.

Wait and see

Las Vegas Raiders head coach Antonio Pierce isn’t yet willing to name a quarterback for next week, when his team hosts the Steelers. That’s after he pulled Gardner Minshew for Aidan O’Connell during Vegas’ 34-18 loss to the Denver Broncos on Sunday.

“I don’t know. I don’t have an answer for that one yet,” Pierce said when asked if O’Connell would be starting next week.

Minshew completed his first nine passes of the game for 115 yards. The 28-year-old journeyman finished just 12 of 17 for 137 yards. He had one touchdown, two interceptions and took two sacks.

One of those interceptions was returned the length of the field for a touchdown by Pat Surtain II.

O’Connell took over with Las Vegas trailing 20-10 in the third quarter with 90 seconds left on the clock. The second-year signal-caller out of Purdue ended up going 10 of 20 for 94 yards. He was also intercepted by Surtain.

As a member of the Colts last year, Minshew beat the Steelers while throwing three touchdowns and posting a 123.4 passer rating.

Holding steady

Call it “committed,” or call it “stubborn.” Either way, Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski is staying with struggling Deshaun Watson as the team’s quarterback.

“We’re not changing quarterbacks,” Stefanski said after a 34-13 loss Sunday to the Washington Commanders. “We need to play better. I need to coach better. That’s really what it is.”

Jameis Winston came in for the final drive of the game Sunday.

Watson completed 15 of 28 passes for just 125 yards and one touchdown. He absorbed seven sacks. The 29-year-old has been sacked 26 times already this season.

The Browns’ loss drops them to 1-4. They play in Philadelphia next week before opening up AFC North play. The Cincinnati Bengals and Baltimore Ravens visit Cleveland in weeks seven and eight.

More sports

• Airing of Grievances: Another rotten offensive start and leaks on defense result in Steelers' loss to Cowboys
• Steelers notes: Nick Herbig, DeMarvin Leal injured; T.J. Watt surpasses 100 sacks
• Through 5 games George Pickens still without a TD after meager 26-yard production vs. Dallas

Taylor tired

Cincinnati Bengals coach Zac Taylor summed up his feelings after a 41-38 overtime loss to the Baltimore Ravens (3-2).

“I’m sick to my stomach for our guys in there,” Taylor said via the team’s website. “They fought. I’m proud of them, but we’ve got to find a way to win. We can’t keep coming up one play short, and that’s really what the game came down to. There was a lot that I admired about how our team fought. That was a good game against a great team, and we’ve got to find a way to rebound from this and move forward because I believe in the guys in that room.”

After Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson fumbled a snap in overtime, the Bengals (1-4) took over at the Baltimore 38. But they only gained 3 yards and Evan McPherson missed a 53-yard field goal after an off-target snap and a misplaced spot.

The Ravens got the ball back and kicked a game-winning field goal on the next possession after a 51-yard run from Derrick Henry.

Wasatch wounded

As NHL teams cobble together their opening night rosters, two former Penguins are starting 2024 on injured reserve.

Both defenseman John Marino and center Nick Bjugstad will start Utah’s inaugural season on IR with upper body injuries.

Also, former Penguins Zach Aston-Reese (Vegas) and Matt Murray (Toronto) were waived.

As for the Penguins, they waived Boko Imama and Sebastian Aho.

Series sweep

The Robert Morris women’s hockey team swept its weekend series against the Bemidji State Beavers on Sunday at Clearview Arena. The Colonials took the first game on Neville Island on Friday night 2-0. They won Saturday’s rematch 4-3 in overtime.

Thalia D’Elia had the game-winner in OT Saturday.

That was the second goal of the season for the sophomore defenseman. The Colonials are now 3-1 after a split last weekend against Union. Head coach Logan Bittle’s team visits Clarkson next season.

The RMU men’s team opens competition next week with a three-game exhibition series in Michigan against Bowling Green, the U.S. National Development Team and Simon Fraser.

The first regular-season game of the year is Oct. 17 at Miami (Ohio). There will be a return game at Neville Island on Oct. 19.

Tim Benz is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Tim at tbenz@triblive.com or via X. All tweets could be reposted. All emails are subject to publication unless specified otherwise.

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Categories: Sports | Steelers/NFL | Breakfast With Benz | Tim Benz Columns
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