First Call: Will sensational ace is expected to start for the Titans; Steelers reportedly had interest in trading for Bears CB; news on Steelers ownership

First Call: Steelers reportedly had interest in trading for Bears CB; news on Steelers ownership; Will Levis likely starter for Titans

Wednesday’s “First Call” gives us a Pittsburgh Steelers trade rumor that never panned out. We have a new person interested in buying into the franchise.

A former Steelers quarterback has been traded. Will Levis looks good to go as the starter for the Tennessee Titans at Acrisure Stadium Thursday.

And we scout the refs for Thursday night’s game.

Bear market

The Steelers almost swung another deal with the Chicago Bears. That’s according to Bleacher Report’s Jordan Schultz.

He says the Steelers were one of many teams in the running to acquire cornerback Jaylon Johnson.

According to Schultz, Johnson requested a trade early Tuesday morning. But the Bears ended up keeping him as Tuesday’s trade deadline came and went.

Johnson is 24 years old. He played college football at Utah and was drafted by Chicago in the second round. He has the third-highest coverage grade (84.4) of any cornerback in football, according to Pro Football Focus. He is set to be an unrestricted free agent next year.

Last year, the Steelers dealt Chase Claypool to the Bears for a second-round pick that was eventually used to draft Joey Porter Jr.

All but official

Will Levis hasn’t been officially named the starter for the Tennessee Titans against the Steelers for Thursday night’s game. But word from Nashville is pretty much assuring it.

Tannehill’s injured ankle still hasn’t allowed him to practice this week. He hasn’t played since getting injured during a 24-16 loss to the Baltimore Ravens in London on Oct. 15. Coach Mike Vrabel is all but assuring Levis will start.

Levis, a former Penn State Nittany Lion and Kentucky Wildcat, had an impressive debut during his team’s 28-23 win over Atlanta on Sunday. He threw four touchdowns along the way.

As for former Steeler Chris Hubbard, he didn’t practice. The offensive lineman is trying to overcome a concussion. Cornerback Anthony Kendall was back to full participation after being out the day before. Receiver Chris Moore missed a second straight day due to a personal matter.

Star running back Derrick Henry (ankle), standout wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins (toe) and Pro Bowl defensive lineman Jeffery Simmons (ankle) were limited in practice Tuesday.

I previewed the Titan’s visit to Pittsburgh with former WTAE anchor and 93.7 The Fan morning show host Jon Burton during Tuesday’s “Breakfast With Benz” podcast. Burton is now an anchor and sports radio host in Nashville.

Ownership update

There is some news on the Steelers ownership front. According to Bloomberg, Blue Owl Capital Inc. co-president Michael Rees is among those interested in buying a minority share of the team.

The available stake is roughly 5% of the club, primarily owned by Art Rooney II. The shares have to be divested by sports investors Josh Harris and David Blitzer because they ended up buying the Washington Commanders, and owners can’t have a share in two franchises at once, according to NFL rules.

Rees lives in Connecticut but is reportedly a lifelong Steelers fan. Via Steelers Depot, Blue Owl also has shares in the NBA’s Atlanta Hawks, Phoenix Suns and Sacramento Kings. Forbes says the 48-year-old is worth a billion dollars.

Bloomberg reports that current minority owner Thomas Tull “is vying against rivals for the stake.

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Meanwhile, the Rooney family suffered a loss over the weekend. Via Steelers Now, Patrick Rooney died Sunday. The 84-year-old was one of the sons of the franchise’s original owner, Art Rooney Sr. So he was the brother of deceased former owner Dan Rooney and an uncle to current owner Art Rooney II.

Patrick and his twin brother, John Rooney, had been partial owners of the team but sold their shares in 2006. That year, the NFL mandated that a primary owner needed to have at least a 30% stake in the team and that the Steelers needed to separate from the gambling ties John and Patrick had to the Palm Beach Kennel Club dog racing track in Florida.

The track is now being sold to a land development group. John Rooney died last December.

Ref report

A lot of Steelers fans are concerned that the officials in this week’s game are going to hold a grudge against the Steelers because Diontae Johnson ripped last week’s crew so harshly in the wake of their blown calls during the team’s loss to Jacksonville.

Perhaps. But the Steelers do have one thing going for them. John Hussey’s crew will be running the game Thursday night. His unit has called 38 penalties against the home team and 58 penalties against the visiting team — third most in the NFL.

So, that’s a good start.

The Steelers have 36 penalties against them. The second fewest in the NFL. Tennessee has 42, the sixth-lowest total in the league.

Another stop

Former Steeler Josh Dobbs is on the move again. After beginning the season in Arizona as the starting quarterback, Dobbs is being traded to Minnesota.

The Vikings will send a 2024 sixth-round draft pick to the Cardinals and receive a conditional 2024 seventh-rounder with Dobbs in return.

Minnesota is in need of QB help after Kirk Cousins tore his Achilles tendon on Sunday. And Kyler Murray is due back soon at quarterback in Arizona after spending all of this year on the shelf thanks to a rehabbing knee from ACL surgery.

This is Dobbs’ seventh team in seven seasons. For this week at least, Jaren Hall will be under center for the Vikings. The fifth-round draft pick from BYU took over in the fourth quarter in Green Bay after Cousins tore his right Achilles tendon. He will make his first career start at Atlanta on Sunday.