Steelers Players to Watch: Week 1 vs. 49ers

by James Layton

Steelers Football is finally back. This is a good matchup to start the season off with. This game will be good to see if 2nd year quarterback Kenny Pickett to show what he can do against a very good defense.

The 49ers offense is a good matchup for our Defense to see how our run stopping ability has improved since last season.

Let’s get into the players to watch.

Offense

  • 8 Kenny Pickett, QB
  • 22 Najee Harris, RB
  • 14 George Pickens, WR
  • 18 Diontae Johnson, WR
  • 19 Calvin Austin III, WR
  • 88 Pat Freiermuth, TE
  • 83 Connor Heyward, TE/FB
  • 65 Dan Moore Jr, OT
  • 61 Mason Cole, C
  • 76 Chuks Okorafor, OT

Defense

  • 95 Keeanu Benton, NT
  • 97 Cam Heyward, DT
  • 98 DeMarvin Leal, DE
  • 56 Alex Highsmith, OLB
  • 55 Cole Holcomb, ILB
  • 50 Elandon Roberts, ILB
  • 90 TJ Watt, OLB
  • 20 Patrick Peterson, CB
  • 29 Levi Wallace, CB
  • 39 Minkah Fitzpatrick, FS

2024 NFL Draft Prospects to Watch: Week 2 Iowa @ Iowa State

by James Layton

I’ve been waiting all year for this matchup. This is one of my favorite games all season to watch. Both teams have become some of the top producing schools for draft prospects.

A few notable names that have come out of these schools. QB Brock Purdy (Iowa State), LB Jack Campbell (Iowa), CB Desmond King (Iowa), and RB David Montgomery (Iowa State).

Let’s get into the prospects.

Iowa

  • 78 Mason Richman, OL
  • 12 Cade McNamara, QB
  • 85 Logan Lee, DL
  • 85 Luke Lachey, TE
  • 65 Logan Jones, OL
  • 10 Nick Harris, DB
  • 27 Jermari Harris, DB
  • 45 Deontae Craig, DL
  • 35 Erick All, TE
  • 9 Tory Taylor, P
  • 30 Quin Schults, S
  • 99 Noah Shannon, DL
  • 13 Joe Evans, DE
  • 3 Cooper Dejean, CB

Iowa State

  • 2 TJ Tampa, DB
  • 54 Jarrod Hufford, OL
  • 14 Dimitri Stanley, WR
  • 83 DeShawn Hankins, TE
  • 55 Derrell Simmons Jr, G
  • 12 Hunter Dekkers, QB
  • 21 Jirehl Brock, RB
  • 66 Tyler Miller, OT
  • 72 Jake Remsburg, OT

2024 NFL Draft Prospects to Watch: Week 2 Wisconsin @ Washington State

by James Layton

This a good matchup between two schools that have produced some top quality defensive players over the past few seasons.

Just a couple of names that have come out of them. Isaiahh Loudermilk (Wisconsin), Nick Herbig (Wisconsin), Daiyan Henley (Washington State), and Gardner Minshew (Washington State).

Let’s get into the prospects.

Wisconsin

  • 26 Travian Blaylock, DB
  • 63 Tanner Bortolini, OL
  • 13 Chimere Dike, WR
  • 98 CJ Goetz, LB
  • 47 Peter Bowden, LS
  • 19 Darian Varner, DL
  • 23 Jason Maitre, DB
  • 8 Tanner Mordecai, QB
  • Isaiah Mullens, DL
  • Jack Nelson, OL
  • Maema Njongmeta, LB
  • Jordan Turner, LB

Washington State

  • 80 Brennan Jackson, DL
  • 0 Sam Lockett III, DB
  • 6 Chau Smith-Wade, DB
  • 1 Cameron Ward, QB
  • 25 Nakia Watson, RB
  • 8 Devin Richardson, LB
  • 3 Josh Kelly, WR
  • 10 Ron Stone Jr, S

NFL Transaction Report 9/6

By Barb Layton

49ers
Waived DB Taylor Hawkins from IR with a settlement

Bears
Released WR Isaiah Ford and WR Dante Pettis from IR with settlements

Chiefs
Waived G Jerome Carvin from IR with a settlement

Colts
Released TE Ricky Seals-Jones from IR with a settlement

Commanders
Signed WR Jamison Crowder and CB Keidron Smith to the practice squad
Released DE William Bradley-King and C Nolan Laufanberg from the practice squad

Dolphins
Released TE Eric Saubert from IR with a settlement

Jets
Released DE Jimmy Moreland from the IR with settlement

Lions
Waived RB Jermar Jefferson from IR with a settlement

Packers
Waived RB Tyler Goodson and LS Broughton Hatcher from IR with settlements
Released DB Tarvarius Moore from IR with a settlement

Rams
Placed DB Shaun Jolly on IR after clearing waivers

Seahawks
Waived LB Vi Jones from IR with a settlement

Texans
Placed RT Tytus Howard on IR
Signed RB Larry Rountree and S Scott Nelson to the practice squad
Placed S Brandon Hill on the practice squad IR list

Top College Football Games: Week 2

by James Layton

Week one was full of surprises and upsets. I expect week two to be the same way. There is an impressive lineup of games for this week. Some teams I can’t wait to see play are Wisconsin, Iowa, Miami (OH), and USC.

Let’s get into my top games.

Thursday

Illinois @ Kansas 7:30 pm ESPN 2

Saturday

  • Vanderbilt @ Wake Forest, 11:00 am ACC Network
  • 22 Ole Miss @ 24 Tulane, 3:30 pm ESPN 2
  • 25 Iowa @ Iowa State, 3:30 pm Fox
  • Miami (OH) @ Umass, 3:30 pm ESPN +
  • Appalachian State @ North Carolina, 5:15 pm ACC Network
  • 11 Texas @ 4 Alabama, 7:00 pm ESPN
  • 19 Wisconsin @ Washington State, 7:30 pm ABC
  • UCLA @ San Diego State, 7:30 pm CBS
  • Stanford @ 6 USC, 10:30 pm Fox
  • Auburn @ California, 10:30 pm ESPN

NFL Games to Watch Week 1

By Barb Layton

It is so great to have meaningful football games. I love this time of year. I like to choose games to watch each week.

Let’s get it started

Lions @ Chiefs Thursday 8:20
Bengals @ Browns Sunday 1:00
49ers@ Steelers Sunday 1:00
Packers @ Bears Sunday 4:25
Dolphins @ Chargers Sunday 4:25
Cowboys @ Giants Sunday 8:20
Bills @ Jets Monday 8:15

NFL Transaction Report 9/5

By Barb Layton

49ers
Waived DB AJ Parker from IR with settlement
Released K Zane Gonzalez from IR with settlement

Bengals
Signed TE Zach Gentry to the practice squad
Signed DE Garrett Nelson to the practice squad
Released LB Tyler Murray from the practice squad

Buccaneers
Waived DB Don Gardner from IR with settlement

Falcons
Signed S Lukas Denis to the practice squad
Placed OL Barry Wesley on the practice squad IR list

Giants
Placed WR Cole Beasley on the practice squad IR list
Signed WR Cam Sims to the practice squad

Panthers
Signed WR Dezmon Patmon to the practice squad

Raiders
Signed WR Keelan Cole to the practice squad
Released WR Antoine Wesley from the practice squad
Waived DB Jordan Perryman and WR Isaiah Zuber from IR with settlement

Rams
Waived DB Shaun Jolly with injury designation

Vikings
Waived LB Abraham Beauplan from IR with settlement

NFL Power Rankings Week 1

By Barb Layton

This is the 1st week of meaningful games. I think this is how the power rankings are at this point of the season. I think the new season will get off to a good start.

Let’s get this started.

  1. Chiefs
  2. Eagles
  3. Bills
  4. Bengals
  5. 49ers
  6. Cowboys
  7. Ravens
  8. Chargers
  9. Jets
  10. Jaguars
  11. Steelers
  12. Dolphins
  13. Packers
  14. Lions
  15. Seahawks
  16. Browns
  17. Commanders
  18. Vikings
  19. Giants
  20. Saints
  21. Titans
  22. Broncos
  23. Colts
  24. Panthers
  25. Patriots
  26. Buccaneers
  27. Raiders
  28. Falcons
  29. Texans
  30. Rams
  31. Bears
  32. Cardinals

NFL Transaction Report for 9/4

By Barb Layton

49ers
Signed K Matthew Wright to the practice squad
Released RB Brian Hill from the practice squad

Broncos
Waived LB Christopher Allen from IR with settlement

Browns
Signed QB Phillip Walker to the practice squad

Buccaneers
Waived TE Dominique Dafney and DB Kedrick Whitehead from IR with Settlements

Cardinals
Re-signed LS Aaron Brewer to the Active Roster
Signed DB Quavian White to the practice squad

Colts
Released OT Dan Skipper from the Practice squad
Signed G Arlington Hambright to the practice squad

Dolphins
Signed WR Chosen Anderson to the practice squad
Released DE Randy Charlton from the practice squad

Eagles
Signed LB Nicholas Morrow and OL Tyre Phillips to the practice squad
Released CB Tiawan Mullen and LB Kyron Johnson from the practice squad

Giants
Waived G Jack Anderson from the IR with settlement

Jaguars
Signed DL Ross Blacklock to the practice squad
Released DL Tommy Togiai from the practice squad

Panthers
Placed LB Marquis Haynes on IR

Patriots
Placed OL Riley Reiff on IR
Signed TE Pharaoh Brown to the active roster
Signed DE Jeremiah Pharms to the practice squad

Raiders
Signed C Hroniss Grasu to the practice squad
Released G Vitaliy Gurman from the practice squad
Waived WR Chris Lacy from IR with settlement

Ravens
Released QB Anthony Brown from the practice squad
Signed DB Tae Hayes to the practice squad

Saints
Signed TE Tommy Hudson to the practice squad
Released OT Mark Evans from the practice squad

Seahawks
Placed WR Dareke Young on IR
Signed G Ben Brown to the active roster
Signed QB Holton Ahlers and S Brady Breeze to the practice squad
Released RB Bryant Koback from the practice squad

Titans
Waived TE Alize Mack from IR with settlement

Vikings
Signed WR N’Keal Harry to the practice squad
Released C Alan Ali from the practice squad