First Call: Todd Haley's new head coaching job; Lamar Jackson still not practicing during Steelers week

Friday’s “First Call” doesn’t paint a rosy picture for Lamar Jackson as we wait to see if the Ravens quarterback is going to play against the Steelers. Todd Haley has a new coaching job. We look at the Penguins’ next opponent. And the Duquesne men’s basketball team may finally be able to play a game again.

Getting late for Lamar

Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson was unable to practice again Thursday.

The former NFL MVP hasn’t been able to do so all week thanks to an ankle injury that has hobbled him since Dec. 12.

The Ravens host the Steelers Sunday in the 2021 season finale. A few other notable Ravens didn’t practice either.

Lamar Jackson (ankle) was one of five Ravens players who did not practice Thursday:

WR Marquise Brown (ankle)
G Ben Cleveland (head)
OLB Odafe Oweh (foot)
CB Anthony Averett (ribs/chest)

Brown and Cleveland added to injury report today. pic.twitter.com/RsmQZ43iu3

— Jamison Hensley (@jamisonhensley) January 6, 2022

Also, Baltimore fullback Patrick Ricard and tight end Nick Boyle were placed on the covid-19 reserve list.

Meanwhile, the Steelers may have lost wide receiver Diontae Johnson and center Kendrick Green. They have been placed in covid-19 protocol.

If Jackson doesn’t play, Tyler Huntley will likely start. Huntley has started three of the four games that Jackson has missed. On the season, Huntley is 106 of 157 for a completion percentage of 67.5 and 940 yards (6.0 yards/attempt). He has three touchdowns and two interceptions and has been sacked 15 times. Huntley is averaging 193.7 yards per game through the air. Jackson was at 304.

Tampa Todd

Former Steelers offensive coordinator Todd Haley is going to be the first head coach of the new version of the USFL Tampa Bay Bandits.

They are one of eight former USFL teams that are getting rebooted as the once defunct league is starting up again in April.

This isn’t Haley’s first stint as a head coach. He held that job with the Kansas City Chiefs from 2009-11.

The reincarnated Pittsburgh Maulers have yet to announce their coach.

During his time in Pittsburgh, Haley coached a certain prolific wide receiver who just recently was terminated by Tampa Bay’s NFL team.

Hmm. I wonder if that guy is looking for work. I believe his name was … Ronald … something.

Do I have that right?

Stars on the horizon

A 6-2 victory in Philadelphia Thursday night extended the Penguins’ win streak to 10 games and improved their record to 20-8-5. That’s 45 points, currently good for the Eastern Conference’s top wild-card slot.

They next play the Dallas Stars, who beat the Florida Panthers in a 6-5 shootout Thursday.

Holtby kept things on in the shootout!!@DallasStars | #TexasHockey pic.twitter.com/QwkEhg1TQD

— Bally Sports Southwest (@BallySportsSW) January 7, 2022

That was Dallas’ first game since Dec. 20. They had six covid-19-related postponements in a row.

The Stars have 34 points, sixth in the Central Division. But they have been great at home, 11-3-1. Meanwhile, the Pens have been excellent on the road, 10-3-3. That’s good, because the game against the Stars is the second of six in a row away from home.

Sidney Crosby and company don’t host another game at home until Jan. 20 when the Ottawa Senators visit PPG Paints Arena.

Back at it?

The Duquesne men’s basketball team may finally get another game under its belt Saturday.

The Dukes (5-7) visit the University of Massachusetts at noon Saturday. It’ll be the first Atlantic 10 game of the year for Keith Dambrot’s team, if the game happens. Duquesne has had one game canceled and three others postponed since Dec. 22.

Duquesne’s last game was a 76-54 victory over UC Irvine on Dec. 19. Shortly thereafter, Dambrot and most of his staff and players caught coronavirus. On Thursday, Dambrot said he is still feeling the aftereffects of the disease. All but one of his coaches and three of his players tested positive.

Once Dambrot and company cleared protocol, their scheduled opponent for Sunday — George Washington — had to postpone because of positive tests in their program. That game has been rescheduled for Feb. 15. Games against Davidson and George Mason are still in limbo. A non-conference game against Wofford was completely canceled.

UMass comes in at 7-6. They average 79 points per game, second best in the A-10. But they are the worst defensive team in the conference, yielding 78.2 points.