First Call: Micah Parsons frustrated over injury before Steelers game; Mason Rudolph helps Titans in ‘MNF’ win

Tuesday's "First Call" has highlights of Mason Rudolph's Monday Night Football win for the Tennessee Titans, news about potential moves at wide receiver for the Pittsburgh Steelers, context for the franchise's current offensive line woes, and an update on Micah Parsons' health in advance of his trip to Acrisure Stadium with the Cowboys on Sunday night.

Monday Night Mason

Mason Rudolph came off the bench to help the Titans to a win on "Monday Night Football." The former Steelers quarterback replaced an injured Will Levis during a 31-21 victory in Miami. Levis injured his shoulder in the first quarter diving for the first down marker .

While Rudolph only managed 85 yards on 9-17 passing, he was still at the helm of Tennessee's offense for seven scoring drives.

His biggest connection was a 27-yard strike to Pitt product Tyler Boyd.

The Clairton alum now has 10 catches on the season for 108 yards.

Tennessee rushed for 142 yards and limited the Dolphins to 184 yards of total offense. Both teams are 1-3.

Looking for help

Now that James Daniels is going on injured reserve with an Achilles injury, the Steelers are in need of more offensive line depth. So the club worked out free agents J.D. DiRenzo and Garret Greenfield, according to Aaron Wilson of KPRC-2 in Houston.

DiRenzo is a former Carolina Panther. He went undrafted out of Rutgers in 2023 and was active for three games in Charlotte before being waived with an injury designation. Greenfield is a former South Dakota State teammate of current Steelers guard Mason McCormick. He was signed by the Seattle Seahawks as an undrafted free agent. He was eventually released before the regular season started.

After two years of nearly pristine health along the offensive line, the Steelers have lost Daniels, Nate Herbig (rotator cuff), and Troy Fauntanu (knee) for the season from that unit already in 2024. Also, Isaac Seumalo has yet to play this year because of a pectoral injury.

Last week in Indianapolis, Spencer Anderson replaced Daniels at right guard and McCormick was at left guard for Seumalo. Zach Frazier manned the center position, while Broderick Jones and Dan Moore were at the tackle spots.

Moore has started 53 of the last 55 games. Seumalo started all 17 games during his first year as a Steeler in 2023. Mason Cole started every one of the 34 games he played in Pittsburgh at center. Daniels has been a Steeler since the start of the 2022 season and has missed just two games.

More sports

• Steelers adjusting to another season-ending injury on their offensive line • Penguins prospect Owen Pickering and his 'war at the dinner table' • Pete Rose, baseball's banned hits leader, has died at age 83

Lucky timing

Fortunately for the banged-up Steelers offensive line, the unit may not have to face the full force of the Dallas Cowboys defensive front Sunday night at Acrisure Stadium.

Star linebacker Micah Parsons is considered week-to-week, having suffered an ankle injury during Thursday night's win over the New York Giants. The former Penn State standout might not be able to play against the Steelers.

If that happens, the two-time All-Pro would miss his first game due to injury since being drafted in 2021.

"It's just frustrating," Parsons told DallasCowboys.com . "You put a lot of energy into getting ready and being there for the team, so being out hurts me because I'm letting people down. I'm just letting people down. I figured myself invincible for a while. It's humbling."

The only game Parsons has missed in his career was a contest in 2021 because of coronavirus protocols.

Meanwhile, Pro Bowl defensive lineman Demarcus Lawrence is slated to be out multiple weeks with a foot injury.

No way for D.J.

Those wondering if the Steelers may be able to reacquire Diontae Johnson via trade are going to be disappointed by this news.

After a slow start in Carolina, the ex-Steelers wide receiver has put up 205 receiving yards on 15 catches with two touchdowns over the past two weeks. But he is doing so with the 1-3 Panthers.

That has led some to wonder if Carolina may be willing to trade Johnson back to the Steelers for a draft pick after Pittsburgh just dealt him there for Donte Jackson back in March.

That's not happening.

As discovered by SteelersNow.com , the NFL Network's Ian Rapoport posted a passage from the NFL rules book about teams requiring players through a trade. It states the trading club isn't allowed to get the player back in another trade for two years unless the player is released.

Rapoport posted that information in regard to similar questions about the notion of the Philadelphia Eagles reacquiring Haason Reddick from the Jets after they dealt him to New York in April. Reddick has yet to play with New York due to a contract stalemate.

Presumably, that would preclude Johnson from returning to Pittsburgh. With Rashee Rice injured, the Kansas City Chiefs have also been listed as a possible destination for Johnson.