First Call: Browns will be missing stars for Steelers game; debunking Joe Haden to Dallas rumors; Ravens red hot

Tuesday’s “First Call” sees a quiet start and a quick end to a Steelers trade rumor. The Cleveland Browns injury report is pretty deep. The Baltimore Ravens are red hot. And the Dallas Stars are logging some air miles heading to Pittsburgh.

Nothing to it

There was a flicker of a trade rumor involving the Dallas Cowboys and Pittsburgh Steelers.

It didn’t gain much lift.

Bleacher Report tossed out the idea that the Cowboys should pursue Steelers cornerback Joe Haden to help their secondary.

But Sports Illustrated’s Cowboys reporter Mike Fisher says a team source told him there is nothing to that conversation, despite Dallas showing interest in Haden in 2017 “at the right price.”

Cowboys Sources Address Steelers CB Joe Haden Trade Rumor. #Steelers https://t.co/GuzaVrCpfX pic.twitter.com/mNBV4hvV3n

— Blitzburgh (@BlitzVideos) October 18, 2021

On Oct. 15, Fisher wrote, “The Cowboys are not presently pursuing such a trade and have not engaged in conversation with the Steelers about Haden.”

Whatever presumed interest the Steelers may have had in spinning Haden likely has been quelled after winning their last two games and evening their record at 3-3.

Bad news Browns

A lot of the injury news surrounding the Cleveland Browns is pretty bad.

Browns coach Kevin Stefanski told reporters Monday that running back Kareem Hunt is “likely” headed to injured reserve with a calf injury. He’s expected to miss more than the minimum three weeks as required by IR rules.

The NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports the timeline as 4-6 weeks.

The Steelers visit Cleveland on Oct. 31. Hunt got hurt in the second half of Sunday’s loss to Arizona. Stefanski also revealed that rookie linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah will also miss multiple weeks with an ankle injury endured in that contest.

Quarterback Baker Mayfield and wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. both missed time during the game.

Running back Nick Chubb, wide receiver Jarvis Landry and offensive linemen Jedrick Wills and Jack Conklin all missed the Cardinals game due to various injuries.

Worse yet for the Browns. They are playing on a short week with a home game against the Denver Broncos Thursday.

Rolling Ravens

We’ve seen a few so-called “statement wins” so far in the NFL this year.

Like the Buffalo Bills whipping the Kansas City Chiefs in Arrowhead 38-20 in Week 5. Tennessee Titans holding off those same Bills 34-31 Monday night. The Los Angeles Rams clipping the Tampa Bay Buccaneers by 10 in Week 3. Or the Arizona Cardinals beating those same Rams by 17 in Week 4.

But perhaps none of those victories was quite as good as what the Baltimore Ravens did to the Los Angeles Chargers this past Sunday.

L.A. has fast become the flavor of the month in the AFC West with Kansas City struggling to find its footing. The Denver Broncos are settling into a mediocre first half of the season, and the Las Vegas Raiders are going through a coaching crisis.

Meanwhile, everyone just keeps waiting for the other shoe to drop on the injury-addled Ravens, and it’s just not happening so far.

Baltimore smashed the Chargers 34-6 to improve to 5-1 Sunday.

TOUCHDOWN @devontafreeman!

EACH RAVENS RB HAS FOUND THE END ZONE!

Tune in on CBS. pic.twitter.com/chNj7Wq0nR

— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) October 17, 2021

Not only that, but they limited Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert to a 56% completion percentage, 195 yards passing and a passer rating of 67.8, all season lows.

So much of what has been discussed with the Ravens has been about what Lamar Jackson is doing on offense. Well, this is the third time in four games where the Ravens have held an opponent to 17 points or less. And it is by far the most daunting offense they have faced in that stretch.

Winding road

The Dallas Stars come to Pittsburgh for a fourth straight road game to open up the season.

They have started the year 1-2 with a 3-2 overtime win against the New York Rangers. They lost to the Boston Bruins 3-1 and the Ottawa Senators 3-2.

After playing the Penguins at PPG Paints Arena Tuesday night, the Stars will return to Dallas and welcome the Los Angeles Kings for their home opener on Friday, Oct. 22.

Radek Faksa is leading Dallas so far with three goals in three games.