In Tuesday’s “First Call,” an ex-Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback lands in Baltimore. Chase Claypool is still looking for work. Penguins fans can enjoy another Flyers loss in their current series against Carolina.

And the Pirates look to stay hot in Arizona after their sweep to close out a homestand at PNC Park.

Chase keeps chasing

Chase Claypool is still trying to work his way back to the NFL. The former Steelers receiver had a tryout with the Green Bay Packers during their rookie mini camp.

But according to KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson, he didn’t land a job.

“He’s had great film out there. He’s been productive,” Packers coach Matt LaFleur said via Steelers Wire. “He looks like he’s in great shape. He’s big. So, we’ll see how it goes.”

The former Notre Dame star had a great start to his rookie season. But he began to fade late in that year and never really got back on track. After a 2022 mid-season trade to Chicago, the Bears eventually dealt Claypool to Miami.

In 2024, the now 27-year-old signed with Buffalo only to wind up on injured reserve with a toe problem. He has been trying to find an NFL job ever since.

Running to the Ravens

In other ex-Steelers news, according to the NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, the Baltimore Ravens are inking former Steeler quarterback Skylar Thompson.

This means Baltimore will have five QBs for the time being. Thompson joins Lamar Jackson, Tyler Huntley, UConn rookie Joe Fagano and Vanderbilt rookie Diego Pavia.

After joining the team on Jan. 14 2025, Thompson stayed with the club through training camp until he was put on injured reserve with a hamstring strain in September.

He was also jumped and robbed in Dublin while the team was overseas for the game in Ireland against the Minnesota Vikings.

A 2022 product of Kansas State, Thompson began his career in Miami. He has 10 regular-season appearances and three starts, plus one more in the playoffs during a loss to Kansas City in 2022.

Good timing

After playing a weekend of baseball at PNC Park with temperatures dipping into the 30s, the Pittsburgh Pirates are probably happy to be heading out to Arizona to begin action this week. They play the Diamondbacks for three games at Chase Field.

It’s not a bad time to be playing the DBacks. The Snakes have lost four games in a row to National League Central competition. They dropped a 13-1 decision to the Milwaukee Brewers on Thursday, then got swept at Wrigley Field by the Chicago Cubs.

In those four defeats, Torey Lovullo’s team was outscored 29-10. He’ll start the series by pitching Eduardo Rodriguez (2-0, 3.03 ERA). The right-hander will be followed on Wednesday by Michael Soroka. The Canadian-born righty is 4-1 with a 4.70 ERA. Zach Gallen (1-2, 4.45) finishes out the series.

Arizona is attempting to improve on a 16-17 record. That’s good for third place in the National League West, five games back of the division-leading Los Angeles Dodgers.

The Pirates will counter with Bubba Chandler (1-3, 4.97) on Tuesday, followed by Paul Skenes (4-2, 3.18) and Mitch Keller (3-1, 2.85). They are 19-16 and just swept the Cincinnati Reds.

The Bucs are now in fourth place, four games back of Central-leading Chicago.

Fans from afar

Without a doubt, the Carolina Hurricanes have some fans in Pittsburgh right now.

After the hated Philadelphia Flyers eliminated the Pens in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs last week, they moved on to face the Metropolitan Division champion Canes.

So far, the Hurricanes have built up a 2-0 series lead. That became the case Monday night when Philadelphia lost 3-2 in Raleigh.

The Flyers took an early lead with two goals before the game was five minutes old. However, Frederick Andersen stopped the other 34 shots he saw from Philly’s skaters, and that gave time for Carolina to retaliate.

Nikolaj Ehlers got one back before the first intermission. Seth Jarvis scored midway through the third period to knot it up at 2-2. Then Taylor Hall scored the game-winner in overtime.

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After sweeping their first series versus the Ottawa Senators, the Hurricanes are now 6-0 so far in playoff action this year. They’ll try to knock out the Flyers in a sweep as well, with the next two games coming in Philadelphia.

Game 3 is Thursday at 8 p.m. Game 4 is at 6 p.m. on Saturday.

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LISTEN: Tim Benz is joined by Pierre McGuire on the Mark Madden show to talk about the NHL Playoffs and the end of the Pittsburgh Penguins season.