Thursday’s “First Call” has a surprising entry from the Pittsburgh Steelers on the NFL Top 100 list. Cam Heyward comments on T.J. Watt’s contractual situation. We have an update on Najee Harris’ injured eye.
And there are long odds facing the U.S. Open champion from Oakmont at this week’s Open Championship in Northern Ireland.
Harris’ Health
We are getting more details about the eye injury suffered by Los Angeles Chargers running back Najee Harris.
As previously confirmed by his agent, Doug Hendrickson, the former Steeler was “at a 4th of July event where a fireworks mishap resulted in injuries to several attendees. Najee sustained a superficial eye injury during the incident, but is fully expected to be ready for the upcoming NFL season.”
Harris is expected to begin training camp on the Non-Football Injury list. That’s according to “The Athletic’s” Daniel Popper.
#Chargers GM Joe Hortiz said Najee Harris (eye) will likely begin training camp on NFI. Harris is expected to report to The Bolt later today, per Hortiz. Harris has been receiving treatment from doctors at Stanford.
— Daniel Popper (@danielrpopper) July 16, 2025
Harris left Pittsburgh for L.A. in free agency this offseason. He signed a one-year, $5.25 million contract with the Chargers after four 1,000-yard seasons with the Steelers. Harris is eligible to come off NFI at any time.
The Steelers and Chargers play each other in Week 10. It’s a Sunday night game in Los Angeles. The Alabama product is expected to compete with first-round running back Omarion Hampton out of North Carolina.
Help from Heyward
There haven’t been many reports about progress when it comes to T.J. Watt’s contract negotiations with the Pittsburgh Steelers. So Watt’s teammate, Cameron Heyward, is trying to generate some momentum to get a deal done.
The Steelers’ defensive captain went on the “Rich Eisen Show” on Wednesday (with guest host Seth Rollins of WWE fame) and stumped for Watt.
???? @CamHeyward
The @steelers stalwart has a very simple message when it comes to his fellow defensive teammate @_TJWatt contract situation:#NFL #HereWeGo @WWERollins pic.twitter.com/qr6rtC6t4F
— Rich Eisen Show (@RichEisenShow) July 16, 2025
“That’s my brother. I want that dude to get paid what he deserves,” Heyward said. “That dude is one of the most fierce and best players in our league. He’s respected throughout the league. We talk about circling players on offense. But offensive players have to circle No. 90 week in and week out. I’ve had the best time being able to play with him. I hope this year is not the last time we play together because that’s my running mate. We’ve created a lot of havoc together. I just want to see that guy continue to be a Pittsburgh Steeler and be a one-helmet guy.”
When asked about the prospect of general manager Omar Khan trading Watt if a deal doesn’t get done, Heyward said he’d try to get in the way of that.
“I’m going up to Omar. I’m telling him, ‘That’s not happening,’” Heyward said. “I don’t think it helps our team to trade a guy like that.”
Watt and Heyward have been teammates since Watt’s rookie year in 2017. Both men have been named first-team All-Pro four times in that span.
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Check the count
Speaking of Heyward, he was recently voted the 83rd best player in the NFL’s Top 100, and that felt low.
But now, a Steeler got named to the list, and it feels pretty high. It’s inside linebacker Patrick Queen. He comes in at No. 75 according to that latest reveal of the votes from NFL players.
NFL Top 100 Players of 2025:@Steelers LB Patrick Queen checks in at No. 75! @NFLFilms pic.twitter.com/vSRGkReWWA
— NFL (@NFL) July 16, 2025
“I just remember seeing blurs of him,” Philadelphia tackle Lane Johnson said. “He was already gone before I could get off the line of scrimmage up to him to get my hands on him. He does a good job evading blockers, good with his hands.”
Queen made the list despite having what many Steelers fans felt was an uneven first season in Pittsburgh during the 2024 campaign. Looking back at 2024, Queen himself was critical of his own play. He was No. 64 on the list a season ago.
After signing a three-year, $41 million free-agent contract last March, Queen totaled 129 tackles. However, only six were for a loss. He didn’t generate many big plays, collecting just one fumble recovery and one sack with no forced fumbles or interceptions and six TFLs.
The top 10 players will be revealed at 8 p.m. Sept. 1 on the NFL Network.
Two in a row?
Despite winning the U.S. Open at Oakmont, J.J. Spaun isn’t much of a gambling favorite to claim a second straight major.
The Open Championship at Royal Portrush in Northern Ireland is the last major of the year. It gets going Thursday with Spaun as a plus-12000 long shot to win two in a row according to BetMGM Sportsbook.
Since his win in Western Pennsylvania last month, Spaun has gone on to card a 7-under at the Travelers Championship, finishing 14th. However, he missed the cut at the Scottish Open.
Scottie Scheffler is the favorite to win at plus-550. Rory McIlroy is next at plus-750. Defending champ Xander Schauffele is at plus-2200.
Listen: Tim Benz and Brian Taylor of Real Golf Radio preview The Open Championship.
Tim Benz is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Tim at tbenz@triblive.com or via X. All tweets could be reposted. All emails are subject to publication unless specified otherwise.
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