Tag: debut

What should fans expect from Mike Williams’ Week 10 Steelers debut?

With Mike Williams set to debut in Week 10, the Pittsburgh Steelers face questions about his role and impact amid recent WR trade trends.

What a difference a week makes! Heading into the Pittsburgh Steelers’ bye in Week 9, uncertainty surrounded the wide receiver position as a whole. However, GM Omar Khan alleviated these concerns at the November 5 deadline by acquiring WR Mike Williams from the New York Jets.

Fans are now left with a new pair of questions: Will Williams contribute immediately, and if so, what will his impact look like?

If you asked QB Russell Wilson, he might say Williams’ presence will be felt all over the field, as his athletic prowess allows him to do virtually anything. However, OC Arthur Smith is particularly excited about Williams’ potential impact in the run game.

Looking at other similar situations for reference, WR Diontae Johnson, WR Amari Cooper, and former All-Pro WR DeAndre Hopkins all played limited snap counts in their debuts with new teams—averaging around just 30% of snaps played.

Could Williams follow a similar precedent and be used sparingly while he acclimates to the new offense? Or will his physical traits allow the team to utilize him more extensively in Week 10 against the Washington Commanders?

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Former Steelers’ WR turned Raven a non-factor in Baltimore debut

Former Steeler and newly acquired Ravens WR Diontae Johnson had an underwhelming debut in Baltimore, making zero impact whatsoever.

While not every debut makes a splash, some fail to even make a ripple. This is exactly the reality Diontae Johnson faced in his first appearance with the Baltimore Ravens in Week 9. The former Steelers WR did his best impression of Roman Wilson’s regular-season debut. Not only did Johnson fail to record a single catch, Ravens QB Lamar Jackson didn’t target him at all during the contest. 

While his playing time was limited, similar to how Pittsburgh Steelers HC Mike Tomlin handled Wilson’s first career NFL regular-season game, his inability to make even a slight impact begs the question: was too much stock put into his arrival with the Ravens?

While Johnson has yet to be given the chance to highlight some of his less-than-lovable qualities, such as his tendency to give up on plays, his lack of consistency in run blocking, and his plethora of dropped passes, fans of Pittsburgh should be excited about the opportunity to showcase, in Week 11’s matchup with the Ravens, why acquiring Donte Jackson was well worth the price they paid in trading Johnson to Carolina. 

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First look: Chiefs WR DeAndre Hopkins lands in Kansas City ahead of debut vs. Raiders

DeAndre Hopkins is officially in Kansas City, and was spotted stepping off a plane and practicing ahead of his #Chiefs debut.

The Kansas City Chiefs made waves by acquiring star wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins in a trade with the Tennessee Titans this week.

With wide receivers Rashee Rice and Marquise ‘Hollywood’ Brown both on the defending Super Bowl champions’ injured reserve list, Kansas City desperately needed to add another pass-catcher.

Hopkins is a tested veteran who has earned first-team All-Pro honors three times in his career and should make an immediate impact for the Chiefs when they face the Las Vegas Raiders on October 27.

On Thursday morning when the trade was officially announced, the team posted photos of Hopkins stepping off a plane in Kansas City.

 

Hopkins participated in the Chiefs’ practice session on Thursday and was seen wearing a No. 8 jersey, the number previously worn by practice squad pass-catcher Justyn Ross.

 

Stay tuned to see how Hopkins fits in Kansas City’s offense this weekend when the Chiefs travel to Las Vegas

QB Russell Wilson broke an almost 70-year-old Steelers’ debut record

In his seasonal debut in Week 7, Russell Wilson broke a Steelers’ passing record that has been held for almost 70 years.

Russ cooked the New York Jets on Sunday Night Football, and no, I’m not talking about Russell Wilson’s signature ‘Dangerwich.’

After the controversial decision to bench the 4-2 Justin Fields, coming off a fantastic offensive showing in Week 6, Head Coach Mike Tomlin was definitely in the hot seat heading into Week 7. However, Tomlin’s intuition proved correct, and Wilson shocked the NFL world.

Wilson not only showed an impressive ability to finish drives with touchdowns, but he also broke a Steelers record in his debut. The previous record for most passing yards by a Steelers quarterback was held by Earl Morrall, set all the way back in 1957 with 249 yards. Wilson’s 264 passing yards officially stamped Mr. Unlimited’s name into the Steelers’ history books.

If Russ didn’t silence doubters after tearing through an elite Jets defense, nothing will. Wilson will look to keep this momentum going as his team hosts the New York Giants next week on Monday Night Football, on October 28th at 8:15 PM EST.

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Steelers fans react to Roman Wilson’s debut: 0 catches with 0 targets

Roman Wilson’s long awaited debut left much to be desired, as he was only given five snaps of offense to participate in.

Roman Wilson made his debut against the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 6, and while his team picked up the win on Sunday, supporters of the rookie third-round wide receiver out of Michigan were left disappointed.

Wilson’s regular season aspirations were put on hold when the rookie wide receiver suffered an ankle injury that caused him to miss the entirety of training camp, as well as the Steelers first five games of season.

Head coach Mike Tomlin and offensive coordinator Arthur Smith hinted that his debut would take place “sooner or later”, but it appears they were leaning towards “sooner”.

Wilson was held without a catch in his regular season debut.  To make matters worse, he also didn’t receive a single target in the Steelers victory over the Raiders.  While holding Wilson to a snap count is understandable, allowing the young receiver to only participate in five offensive snaps is ridiculous.  Frustration from fans of the black and gold is completely understandable, and here are some of the best reactions from Wilson’s lackluster debut.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Roman Wilson debut set for Week 6 vs Raiders

The debut fans have been waiting for is finally here! Roman Wilson is active for the first time all season, and will debut in Week 6.

Steelers fans rejoice!  After weeks of questions surrounding the health of rookie wide receiver Roman Wilson and his inevitable return, the dynamic playmaker will make his debut against the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 6.

It was reported the past couple of weeks that Wilson recorded six practices in full, but still was considered a healthy inactive come gametime for Week’s 4 and 5, much to the chagrin of Steelers fans.

Reporters were obviously bewildered, and asked head coach Mike Tomlin and offensive coordinator Arthur Smith for an explanation.

Tomlin understood the rookie’s desire to get on the field, but stated that “It’s very difficult to get on a moving train”.  Additionally, Smith acknowledged Wilson’s absence from training camp as a potential holdup to his debut.

What will Wilson’s involvement look like in Sunday’s contest?  Will Wilson finally give Pittsburgh the additional playmaker they have been so desperately searching for?  All eyes will be on rookie receiver as the Steelers take on the Raiders in Week 6, on October 13th, at 4:05 PM EST.

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Chiefs vs. Lions: Xavier Worthy scores first NFL touchdown in Arrowhead debut

Xavier Worthy scored his first NFL touchdown during the #Chiefs’ preseason home-opener against the #Lions on Saturday afternoon.

The Kansas City Chiefs wasted no time finding the endzone on Saturday in their second preseason outing against the Detroit Lions.

The team worked hard in the offseason to revamp a struggling offense with the additions of wide receivers Marquise ‘Hollywood’ Brown and Xavier Worthy, adding speed to a team that needed a real deep threat. With Brown sidelined after an injury, Worthy has become a new favorite for quarterback Patrick Mahomes during the preseason.

Watch this video of wide receiver Xavier Worth splitting the Lions’ defense for his first NFL touchdown in the team’s Week 2 preseason game:

When the Chiefs drafted Worhy in the first round, the former Longhorn was expected to see plenty of meaningful snaps and compete for catches with sophomore wide receiver Rashee Rice.

Worthy will quickly become one of Mahomes’ top weapons if he can continue using his speed to evade defenders and find the endzone.

Wyatt Langford records first hit, RBI in MLB debut

Wyatt Langford recorded his first major-league hit and RBI on Thursday as he made his MLB debut for the Texas Rangers.

Former Florida outfielder [autotag]Wyatt Langford[/autotag] made his major-league debut on Thursday, batting fifth for the Texas Rangers as the designated hitter.

He went 1-for-3 in five plate appearances, driving in a run with a sacrifice fly and drawing an intentional walk. His first hit showed off his speed as he beat a throw from Chicago Cubs shortstop Dansby Swanson. Langford had a chance to walk it off in extra innings, but he grounded into a fielder’s choice with the bases loaded.

The Rangers still ended up winning and it’s clear that Langford is already one of the most respected young hitters in the league. Most 22-year-olds don’t get the free pass on Day 1, but the Florida product’s unprecedented rise through the minor leagues hasn’t gone unnoticed by other teams.

Langford is the 83rd Florida Gator to debut in the majors. Jacob Youing’s August debut with the Washington Nationals was the last.

Langford’s Career at Florida

Ranked the No. 144 overall player in the class of 2020 by Perfect Game, Langford joined the Florida Gators as a catcher. The FHSAA Class 1A state champion only got four at-bats as a freshman.

He transitioned to the outfield as a sophomore and took off at the plate. Tying the school record with 26 homers and slashing .355/.447/.719 led to a First Team All-American selection.

Langford entered his junior year as a consensus top-five pick and he lived up to the hype despite suffering a groin injury early in the year. He came back ahead of schedule and slashed .373/.498/.784 with 21 home runs and 57 runs batted in.

Drafted fourth overall, Langford is the second-highest Gator to ever be selected in the draft behind Mike Zunino — third overall in 2012. He left the program ranked sixth all-time in home runs with 47, fifth in batting average (.363), seventh in on-base percentage (.471) and set the program’s record for career slugging percentage at .746.

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WATCH: Re-live Charles Omenihu’s stellar Chiefs debut

Check out this highlight reel of Charles Omenihu’s #Chiefs debut from Week 7 against the #Chargers.

The Kansas City Chiefs defensive line got a huge boost from free agent addition Charles Omenihu in Week 7 against the Los Angeles Chargers. In his first regular-season game with the Chiefs, Omenihu tallied his first sack of the year and played a major part in Kansas City’s sixth victory.

The Chiefs posted a highlight reel from Omenihu’s debut in Kansas City, providing fans a great chance to re-live the lineman’s stellar performance against the Chargers.

With more games like the one he put together against Los Angeles, Omenihu is sure to ingratiate himself to Chiefs Kingdom as part of Kansas City’s fierce pass rush.

While his six-game suspension early in his career with the team was a disappointing start to his tenure with the Chiefs, Omenihu’s fast start to his season went a long way toward justifying Brett Veach’s decision to sign him back in March.

Keep your eye on the promising lineman in Kansas City’s Week 8 matchup against the Denver Broncos to see if he can continue wreaking havoc in the backfield.

Kendre Miller’s debut is the lead storyline in Saints vs. Packers

How often will Kendre Miller be used in his NFL debut vs. the Packers? Can the Saints force the Packers into their first turnover of 2023? | @southexclusives

The top New Orleans Saints storyline to watch in their showdown with the Green Bay Packers is the debut of Kendre Miller. With Jamaal Williams injury and Alvin Kamara entering the final week of his suspension, Miller is the last of the trio standing. Miller’s usage will be the main thing to watch. He will split carries with Taysom Hill and Tony Jones Jr. It’ll be interesting to see the amount of volume he sees in his first game back from injury.

In addition to how many touches he receives, you should watch how those touches are distributed. Miller will get his carries, but how often will he be utilized through the air? Miller showed he could be valuable in the passing game in training camp and preseason. Running backs have been virtually nonexistent in the passing game so far this season. That could change with quick passes to Miller, and he can run routes down the field.

The other storyline to watch is the turnover battle. Jordan Love has yet to throw an interception, and the Packers haven’t turned the ball over at all this year either. Love has fumbled once this season, but it wasn’t recovered. New Orleans has pushed quarterbacks Ryan Tannehill and Bryce Young into making mistakes, forcing a strip sack and three interceptions. Can they get Love to turn the ball over as well?

The Green Bay defense has forced turnovers each week. The Saints have turned the ball over each week. That’s a concerning combination for Saints fans. Last week, the Packers recovered a fumble and forced an interception. Can Derek Carr better protect the ball himself?

Watch for both of these storylines to play out in the Week 3 matchup versus the Green Bay Packers.

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