First Call: Troy Fautanu has harsh words for those who think he's really a guard; Cam Heyward's health update

Friday’s “First Call” has a firm retort from new Pittsburgh Steelers draft choice Troy Fautanu about some doubts surrounding his game. We have a health update on Steelers defensive lineman Cameron Heyward. Another Bengal is unhappy in Cincinnati. The Pirates are heading west. And an ex-Pirate is getting ready for another chance to light up Major League Baseball.

Lashing out

There are likely two reasons why Troy Fautanu fell to No. 20 in the first round of Thursday’s NFL Draft. That’s when the Steelers picked him Thursday night.

There had been some medical concerns about a knee injury. Also, some scouts seem to think Fautanu projects more as a guard than a tackle because he is a bit shorter than most tackles.

However, on Thursday night, Steelers coach Mike Tomlin insisted that they plan on making him a tackle. And in a pre-draft interview with Justin Melo of the Draft Network, Fautanu ripped the belief that he should move to center or guard.

“I think I’m a tackle,” Fautanu said. “Grouping me in a category with the guards because of how tall I am (a little over 6-foot-3), I honestly feel like it was a lazy narrative that grew legs for some reason. That’s lazy analysis. Just watch the tape. … I truly feel like I played the tackle position at a legitimately high level. We made it to the biggest game in college football. I feel like I put my best foot forward against the best opponents throughout the entire season.”

If necessary, Fautanu feels he could play on the interior of the line, but he isn’t worried about his chances of succeeding at tackle in the NFL.

“I’m willing to play guard or center if that’s what it takes,” Fautanu continued. “I took snaps as a center at pro day. I had never done it before. I picked it up pretty quickly. I’m comfortable playing anywhere. My easy answer would be to continue playing tackle. That’s where I’ve played the last three or four years.”

As for that knee injury, Fautanu said Thursday night that it hasn’t bothered him “in years.”

Hey, Heyward

After recovering from offseason surgery, Cameron Heyward is posting his “Not Just Football” podcast again.

On Wednesday, Heyward provided an update on his health status.

“(The) offseason is going pretty good. Got my training going,” Heyward said. “The workouts are going great. … I’m finally starting to feel back, like I’m getting back to myself.”

Heyward says he has been working out with former teammate Tyson Alualu. He says that he was lifting weights as much as he could heading into the surgery so as not to fall behind in that capacity. Heyward claims he took no more than two weeks totally off.

Heyward was dealing with a slight groin injury in training camp. Then he suffered a significant tear in Week 1 against the San Francisco 49ers and didn’t return until Week 9. He never fully recovered throughout the 2023 season.

In 11 games, the defensive captain totaled just 33 tackles, six tackles for loss and two sacks.

Bengals blues

Wide receiver Tee Higgins isn’t the only guy in Cincinnati that’s unhappy with his contractual situation.

Via ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter, three-time Pro Bowl defensive end Trey Hendrickson has requested a trade from the Bengals. Hendrickson is slated to make $15.8 million in 2024. He wants to rework a long-term deal.

Bengals three-time Pro-Bowl DE Trey Hendrickson has requested to be traded from Cincinnati, per league source. Hendrickson is due to make $15 million this season, and is looking for more long-term security than Cincinnati has been willing to offer. pic.twitter.com/PDNKTEiKII

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) April 24, 2024

Kelsey Conway of the Cincinnati Enquirer is saying that Hendrickson is also considering retirement if the Bengals don’t give him a multi-year extension. He will turn 30 in December.

Hendrickson has played in 93 career games between Cincy and New Orleans. He has 59.5 sacks.

See you in San Francisco

After gaining a split at home against the National League Central-leading Milwaukee Brewers, the Pirates head west to visit the San Francisco Giants for a three-game series starting Friday night.

The Bucs enter the three-game set at 13-13. That’s only good for fourth place in the Central. The Giants are 12-14, fourth place in the NL West. The Giants were off Thursday after taking two of three against the New York Mets.

It’s been rough on the mound in San Francisco this year. Bob Melvin’s staff has posted a 4.78 ERA. In the NL, only the Colorado Rockies are worse at 5.74. The 127 runs allowed by San Francisco are fourth most in the NL. The team’s batting average against is .257, 24th in Major League Baseball.

Right-hander Logan Webb (3-1, 2.33 ERA) is off to a good start, though. He’s up to five quality starts already. That’s tied for the most in Major League Baseball with Philadelphia’s Zack Wheeler. But he pitched Tuesday against New York, so he’ll miss this series.

Kyle Harrison (2-1, 5.00 ERA) opens the series Friday. He’ll be followed by Jordan Hicks (2-0, 1.61 ERA) on Saturday. Keaton Winn (2-3, 3.54 ERA) closes out the series Sunday.

The Pirates counter with Quinn Priester (0-1, 8.31), Martin Perez (1-1, 3.45) and Jared Jones (2-2, 2.79). Jones’ 39 strikeouts are fifth in the NL.

Throwin’ G(l)as

Tyler Glasnow is back on the hill for the Los Angeles Dodgers on Saturday afternoon (3:07 p.m.). He will be pitching against the Toronto Blue Jays.

So far, the former Pirate has been fantastic in L.A.

Have a day, Tyler Glasnow!

He finishes his 8th shutout inning with his 10th strikeout! pic.twitter.com/HTG89AlnjG

— MLB (@MLB) April 21, 2024

Glasnow has four wins (tied for first in MLB), 44 strikeouts (second in MLB behind Philadelphia’s Wheeler’s 46), and four quality starts (behind Webb, Wheeler and Toronto’s Jose Berrios with five).

Yusei Kikuchi will be opposing Glasnow for the Blue Jays. He’s been good too. The 32-year-old left-hander is 2-1 with a 2.28 ERA and 33 strikeouts.

Listen: Jeff Erickson of RotoWire joins Tim Benz for their weekly fantasy sports podcast