Tuesday’s “First Call”has a connection between Mike Tomlin and the New York Giants coaching vacancy.

We have injury news from the Cincinnati Bengals and Baltimore Ravens. There are some gambling trends to track in the Steelers-Bengals game on Sunday.

And we look at a busy start to the week for local college basketball at Duquesne, Pitt and Robert Morris.

Tomlin Talk: The New York Giants fired head coach Brian Daboll Monday. The New York Post’s Ryan Dunleavy threw Mike Tomlin’s name into the conversation as a potential replacement.

“The Giants and Steelers organizationsare tied togetherthrough family, so this wouldn’t be a poaching situation,” Dunleavy said of the Mara-Rooney ownership connections. “But what if Tomlin and the Steelers decide their partnership has run its course after 19 seasons with no losing records (but no playoff wins since 2016)? It feels like that dance happens every offseason.”

Eh, that “dance”has happened within the fanbase and the media. I don’t think it’s ever trulybeen entertainedwithin the walls of Art Rooney II’s office.

Tomlin’s name has been linked to trade rumors in the past, like to Washington, Carolina and Chicago. 

Frankly,I thinkit makes sense to consider, depending on whatever compensation New York would want to give. And Dunleavy is right about one thing.It’d have to be an orchestrated, harmonious, three-way construction of a deal between the Giants, Steelers and Tomlin himself.

But Tomlin or Rooney II would have to want that outcome. There have never been rumblings on either side that such a desire exists.

Current AFC North coaches Zac Taylor (Bengals)and Kevin Stefanski (Browns) are also on that list.

Banged-up Bengals: The Steelers likely won’t have to deal with the Cincinnati Bengals’ top pass rusher again. Head coach Zac Taylor says Trey Hendrickson is doubtful for the game in Pittsburgh Sunday afternoon.

Hendrickson missed the first game between the teams as well on Oct. 16. He played on Oct. 26 against the Jets, but was sidelined with a hip injury.

As for quarterback Joe Burrow, his 21-day practice window opened up Monday.

Recovering from turf toe, Burrow isn’t in play for a return against the Steelers. Taylor sayshe’snot even expected to take on team drills this week. 

Joe Flaccois anticipated to be the quarterback for Cincinnati again this week. 

Follow the money: The Steelers (5-4) had a droopy 25-10 loss in Los Angeles on Sunday night.They lost 33-31 to the Bengals (3-6) when the teams metearlier this year.

Yet they are favored Sunday afternoon when the clubsare slatedto rematch. DraftKings lists the Steelers as 5.5-point favorites. The over/under total for the game is 49.5 points. 

According to BetRivers, the Bengals are on a seven-game losing streak as road underdogs. 

The Bengals have won three of their last four games in Pittsburgh and six of thelast10 in the rivalry.

Before that run, the Steelers won 11 in a row.

Ravens report: As the Steelers struggle,and the Ravens (4-5)are findingtheir form, the two teams are now separated by just one game atop the AFC North.

Baltimore is dealing with some injuries, though.

According to coach John Harbaugh, cornerback Marlon Humphrey might need finger surgery. That would sideline him for a week, maybe two. It’s also possible that Humphrey could keep playing with a wrap on the finger.

Also, linebacker Jay Higgins has a knee injury. He will miss some time, but the injury isn’t season-ending, according to NFL.com.

The Ravens have their first game against the Steelerson Dec. 7. Between now and then, they face the Browns in Cleveland this week. Then they host the New York Jets and Cincinnati Bengals.

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Dukes and Queens: In local college basketball Monday night, the Pitt Panthers beat Eastern Michigan 78-66, and the Robert Morris Colonials thumped Geneva 93-47.

Josh Hill led the Colonials with 16 points. Pitt’s leading scorer was Cameron Corhen with 16.

As for Duquesne, the Dukes are in action at home Tuesday night against Queens University of Charlotte at 8 p.m. This is part of the Villanova Challenge MTE.

The Royals (1-2) just played Villanova as part of the event Saturday. They lost 94-74. The Dukes visit Philadelphia to play the Wildcats on Saturday.

So far, Dru Joyce III’s team has won over Niagara (83-63) and Sacred Heart (92-80) to open the season. Tarence Guinyard has 44 points over the first two contests to lead the Dukes in scoring. He was named Atlantic 10 player of the week on Monday.

The Duquesne women’s team (3-0) plays Tuesday evening at the UPMC Cooper Field House as well. They tip off at 5 p.m. against West Liberty (0-0). That’s the alma mater of Duquesne head coach Dan Burt.

Also on Tuesday, the Pitt women (1-1) host Cornell (0-1) at 6 p.m. The RMU women are at St. Francis on Thursday.