In Monday’s “On Sports,” pinch-hitting again for “First Call,” Pittsburgh Steelers fans react to the club’s reported plans to sign veteran quarterback Aaron Rodgers. Unsurprisingly, opinions were mixed, but overwhelmingly lukewarm.

Next, the Pirates will navigate a likely multi-week absence of one of their best hitters, while hard-throwing righty Jared Jones works his way back from injury.

And in collegiate baseball news, Pitt looks to do some damage in the ACC Tournament to shore up its NCAA Tournament hopes.

Rodgers reactions

Many Steelers fans were sent into a frenzy after ESPN and NFL Network reported Aaron Rodgers’ reunion with the club for the 2026 NFL campaign Friday evening.

Rodgers, 42, is preparing to ink a deal worth as much as $25 million with the Steelers, per Adam Schefter, one season after leading the team to a 10-7 record, an AFC North crown and the first round of the playoffs.

Fan reactions as to the intelligence of bringing back Rodgers varied.

A poll on TribLive.com asked, “Do you think Aaron Rodgers is the Steelers’ best available option at quarterback for the 2026 season?” No received 58.9% of the votes compared to 41.1% for yes.

Another poll asked, “Can 42-year-old Aaron Rodgers still carry them deep?” The top answer was “No — age has caught up” at 40.86%, followed by “Only with a better roster” at 31.57% and “Yes — he’s still clutch” at 22.24%

KDKA’s Ricky Sayer interviewed 10 fans on the North Shore in the aftermath of news breaking, reporting that of the bunch, eight expressed dissatisfaction.

“To be honest with you, he’s 42-years-old. I truly believe (the Steelers) should be starting one of those young rookies,” one fan told Sayer.

Said another: “This is a young man’s game – what are we talking about here?”

“I think it’s a terrible decision,” yet another opined.

That said, thoughts weren’t strictly negative.

One fan noted Rodgers’ wealth of experience in the NFL, stating “I have faith in him.”

One year ago, Rodgers completed 65.7% (327 of 498) of his attempts for 3,322 yards and 24 touchdowns, throwing seven interceptions.

But under the hood, Rodgers’ performance was less impressive, as he ranked 23rd of 28 qualifying signal callers in quarterback rating.

From the merits of signing him, to his age, compensation, individual prospects in 2026 and the Steelers’ overall direction as a franchise, the Rodgers signing can confidently be expected to invite debate moving forward.

O’Hearn out weeks

Pirates general manager Ben Cherington had unfortunate news to relay during his weekly 93.7 FM radio show Sunday.

It was regarding outfielder/first baseman Ryan O’Hearn, a first-year Pirate who’s been one of the club’s strongest hitters.

O’Hearn left Saturday’s shutout loss to St. Louis with a quadricep injury and was promptly placed on the 10-day injured list Sunday.

Then, Cherington revealed that O’Hearn, while suffering an injury described as being on “the moderate side” will be out for weeks at the minimum, possibly a month.

On the year, O’Hearn was slugging .289/.368/.459 with seven home runs and 29 RBIs, serving as the Pirates’ main cleanup batter.

For a team currently struggling to produce offensively, his absence comes as a significant blow.

In other Pirates news, injured right-hander Jared Jones made another rehab start with Double-A Altoona Sunday evening, tossing 4⅓ innings and allowing two earned runs on three hits with a pair of walks and seven strikeouts.

Jones, 24, is in the closing stages of recovering from InternalBrace (an alternative procedure to Tommy John surgery, entailing less recovery time) surgery to his throwing elbow.

Cherington and Pirates director of sports medicine Todd Tomczyk have stated that Jones returning to MLB competition by the end of May is a possibility.

Jones missed the entire 2025 campaign and last pitched in a big-league game on Sept. 17, 2024.

Pitt baseball

Pitt’s first-round ACC Tournament matchup has been set, as the 14th-seeded Panthers (30-23, 11-19 ACC) will face No. 11 Louisville on Tuesday evening at Truist Field in Charlotte, N.C.

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The ACC baseball tournament is single-elimination. Should Pitt triumph Tuesday, it would face No. 6 Wake Forest in the second round Wednesday.

The Panthers capped the regular season with a home series defeat to Notre Dame, dropping two of three games. Before that series began, USA Today listed Pitt as one of the “First Four” programs out, projecting the Panthers would miss the NCAA Tournament.

Pitt has made three NCAA Tournament appearances in program history, most recently in 1995.

The Panthers’ 30 wins this season represent a high in their ACC era, as well as under current coach Mike Bell.