In Thursday’s “First Call,” the Pittsburgh Steelers could be expanding the family tree in the defensive backfield. Justin Fields’ jersey number is now known.
Penguins fans are keeping an eye on the Eastern Conference standings. Pirates fans watched another unbeaten team go down as their own team was losing for the first time in 2024.
And more honors for a star Robert Morris women’s hockey player.
All in the family
Could the Steelers draft Joey Porter Jr.’s cousin to play in the same defensive backfield? Don’t rule it out.
Via SteelersNow.com, Shon Stephens told “Inside the Birds” that he anticipates having a pre-draft visit with the Steelers in the near future.
Stephens, a Ferris State cornerback, is the nephew of retired Steelers great Joey Porter Sr. and cousin of Porter Jr., who was selected at corner by the Steelers in the second round out of Penn State a year ago.
Stephens opened eyes while working out at Michigan State’s Pro Day, running a 4.3-second 40-yard dash and repping 225 pounds 19 times on the bench press.
THREAD: @FerrisFootball CB Shon Stephens put on an absolute SHOW at @MSU_Football’s Pro Day!
Stephens, the nephew of #Steelers great Joey Porter, ran the 40 in the reported 4.3’s.
Footage: pic.twitter.com/khwpUsUTf2
— Justin M (@JustinM_NFL) March 14, 2024
Stephens isn’t big. He is 5-foot-9 and 175 pounds and played at West Liberty before Ferris. He was twice slated to join Big Ten schools. Once, it was Penn State, then Purdue. But NCAA transfer rules got in the way.
Justin Melo of the Draft Network says 29 of 32 teams were on hand at MSU’s Pro Day in part to check out Stephens.
An eye on events
As the Penguins have played themselves back onto the fringes of the Eastern Conference playoff picture, they are now scoreboard-watching on a nightly basis.
As the Pens sat idle Wednesday with 79 points (11th place), they saw the Tampa Bay Lightning beat the Toronto Maple Leafs 4-1.
That gives the Lightning 91 points, strengthening their hold on the first wild-card spot. In fact, Tampa is now just four points behind the Leafs in the third spot in the Atlantic.
Nick Paul was one of four goal-scorers for the Bolts.
He really does do it all. ????♂️ pic.twitter.com/Gz40M0PEAh
— Tampa Bay Lightning (@TBLightning) April 4, 2024
Also, the 12th-place New Jersey Devils lost 4-3 to the Metropolitan Division-leading New York Rangers (106 points). That keeps Jersey (76 points) three points behind the Penguins in 12th place.
The Pens next play Thursday (7 p.m.) in Washington. The Capitals have 82 points, good for eighth place and the final wild-card spot right now. While that game is going on, the 10th-place New York Islanders (81 points) are in Columbus.
Ninth-place Detroit (82 points) hosts the Rangers on Friday. The Metro’s third-place team — the Philadelphia Flyers (83 points) — looks to avoid a sixth straight loss against Buffalo on Friday.
Numbers known
Despite his memorable push to the 2023 playoffs, the Steelers are not going to retire Mason Rudolph’s No. 2 jersey. In fact, they are giving it to new quarterback Justin Fields. That’s according to the NFL Jersey Numbers feed on X.
Pittsburgh Steelers QB Justin Fields (@justnfields) is wearing number 2. Last worn by Mason Rudolph. #HereWeGo pic.twitter.com/7BHXu59B6N
— NFL Jersey Numbers (@nfl_jersey_num) April 3, 2024
Fields had worn No. 1 with his previous team, the Chicago Bears.
Meanwhile, fellow quarterback Kyle Allen will wear No. 4 (previously worn by Trace McSorley). Punter Cameron Johnston gets No. 5. Recently acquired wide receiver Van Jefferson will be given Allen Robinson’s old No. 11. And Eric Rowe will bequeath No. 25 to new safety DeShon Elliott.
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