First Call: Hazy prognosis for Lamar Jackson's knee before Steelers game; potential Bryan Reynolds trade targets - harchi90

First Call: Hazy prognosis for Lamar Jackson’s knee before Steelers game; potential Bryan Reynolds trade targets

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Monday’s “First Call” has John Harbaugh’s murky forecast for Lamar Jackson as “Steelers week” looms in Baltimore.

A former Penn State standout stars in the NFC East. So does a former WPIAL great.

Plus, we give you some Bryan Reynolds trade talk, and we consider Meg McConnell’s latest accomplishment at Duquesne.

What’s that mean?

The Steelers play the Baltimore Ravens next week. And they may not have to deal with quarterback Lamar Jackson.

The former NFL MVP left Sunday’s 10-9 win over the Denver Broncos in the first half with a knee injury. After the game, coach John Harbaugh gave a rather nebulous prognosis for Jackson’s return to health saying that it could be “days to weeks.”

That’s quite a gap, since the Steelers play Baltimore this week in Pittsburgh and again in Baltimore on Jan. 1. The only specific that Harbaugh gave up is that Jackson’s injury is not believed to be season ending.

The Steelers beat Jackson and the Ravens 20-19 in Pittsburgh last year on Dec. 5. Then they beat Jackson’s backup, Tyler Huntley, on the road 16-13 (OT) in the final week of the season.

Jackson was just 3 of 4 for 11 yards passing (nine yards rushing) before getting injured. Huntley was 27 of 32 for 187 yards, no touchdowns, an interception and two sacks en route to beating Denver. He also ran for 41 yards and a score.

Nifty Nittany Lion

Washington Commanders rookie Jahan Dotson pulled off a highlight touchdown reception Sunday.

Check out the spin move from the Penn State product against the New York Giants.

Dotson had five catches for 54 yards and that score. That was his fifth TD of the season to go along with 19 catches and 233 yards.

The Commanders and Giants tied 20-20. The Giants are 7-4-1. The Commanders are 7-5-1. Dallas currently has the second NFC wild-card berth. Washington is a half-game behind the Seattle Seahawks for the third wild card.

More sports

• Madden Monday on back-to-back Steelers wins: ‘Not the beginning of a new season’
• Tim Benz: ‘Feats of Strength’ after Steelers stack wins for 1st time this season
• Heyward brothers enjoy emotional Steelers’ victory in return to Atlanta

Magic Malik

Dallas Cowboys defensive back Malik Hooker turned in quite a night against his former team on “Sunday Night Football.”

The New Castle native had a fumble return for a touchdown against the Indianapolis Colts, the team that drafted him out of Ohio State in 2017.

Hooker also had an interception. The Cowboys won 54-19. They are now 9-3. That’s still two games behind Philadelphia in the loaded NFC East. But it’s also good for the top wild card in the conference.

Destination Denver?

Pirates outfielder Bryan Reynolds has reportedly asked for a trade.

Denver Post beat writer Patrick Saunders said that the Colorado Rockies are fond of Reynolds. But he isn’t sure they’d be in the running to get him.

The Braves and Yankees are believed to be in the mix. The San Francisco Giants could take a run at him too.

Second Triple-Double

The Duquesne women’s basketball team went to Delaware on Sunday and beat the Blue Hens 66-55. Junior center Precious Johnson scored 17 points to lead Duquesne offensively. Johnson was 9 of 19 from the field and grabbed eight rebounds.

Chartiers Valley grad Megan McConnell had a whale of a game as well. She totaled 12 points, 15 rebounds and 10 assists. That was her second triple-double of the year. According to Duquesne, McConnell became the first player in either men’s or women’s basketball to get a second triple-double this season.

McConnell tied a career high with 15 rebounds Sunday, making this her fifth game of the season with 10 or more rebounds. It is her second straight game with 15 rebounds. McConnell’s 10 assists also tied her career high.

With the most recent win, head coach Dan Burt now has 175 career coaching wins with the Dukes. That is now one win away from tying and two wins away from breaking the all-time women’s basketball wins record at Duquesne, held by Dan Durkin (176).

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

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