Pittsburg, PA
High 5: These 5 Cowboys need to fill the injury void
(Editor’s Note: Who doesn’t love lists? Throughout the year, ‘High 5’ will provide a top five list for many of the critical topics surrounding the Dallas Cowboys 2024 season.)
There are some obstacles to overcome this week for the Dallas Cowboys. Dallas is missing three of their key contributors as Micah Parsons (Ankle), Demarcus Lawrence (Foot), and Brandin Cooks (Knee) are all unavailable with their bout with Pittsburgh this week.
Does this mean all hope is lost? Absolutely not. Does it put more pressure and importance on the guys that remain healthy? Also yes.
The entire team will have some level of responsibility added on their plate. Especially with so many of these injuries being scattered throughout each unit. Let’s look at the top five names that need a big week in order to secure a Dallas win.
For the first time in his career, Jalen Tolbert will be expected to be a true second wide receiver. He’s had to perform in the shadow of Michael Gallup and Brandin Cooks since being drafted in the third round of the 2022 NFL Draft. Luckily, Prescott and Tolbert had all sorts of extra reps during the CeeDee Lamb holdout in training camp. So far in 2024, he’s been targeted 19 times for 13 catches and 160 yards. He’ll need to produce much more than that if he hopes to continue to elevate and receive more looks as the year goes on.
In the last two seasons, Jake Ferguson has shown to be a consistent and reliable target for Dak Prescott at the tight end position. This week, he’ll need to become more of the playmaker that we saw at times last season. He’s only two weeks removed from an early-season knee injury himself, but his production could be key to replacing the offensive possibilities without Cooks.
3) Andrew Booth/Amani Oruwariye
Two of the newest Dallas Cowboys will be put in a big spot again this week, especially if Caelen Carson can’t play. Both shared the snaps at outside cornerback last week as Booth played in 27 snaps on defense and Oruwariye played in 33. The reason they are on the list together? They should share rotational snaps together against the Pittsburgh offense that is in the top half of the league in most major categories.
These next three games for Terence Steele will be his toughest all year. T.J. Watt is his matchup this week, followed by reigning NFC defensive player of the week Aidan Hutchinson next week, then Nick Bosa after the bye. Steele hasn’t had the best start to the season, allowing two sacks in the first four games and multiple pressures in every outing as well. He’ll have to limit T.J. Watt and the overall impact of the defensive front if Prescott hopes to have enough time to find his depleted receiver corps.
The day has come for the rookie to take a step forward. Over his first four games, Kneeland has tallied eight tackles, one TFL, and three QB hits in the defensive rotation. It may seem that he has the tough task of replacing the production of both Lawrence and Parsons, but that’s nearly impossible. Since 2021, the passer rating allowed by the Cowboys defense with both Parsons and Lawrence on the field (102.6) is over 20 points lower without them on the field (80.8). What Kneeland needs to focus on, is containing Justin Fields and limiting the run. If he’s able to do that, everything else is added production from the talented rookie.
Pittsburg, PA
Allegheny County to hold 100th birthday bash for the Andy Warhol Bridge this summer
With America celebrating its 250th birthday this summer, a major landmark in Pittsburgh will celebrate its 100th birthday.
Allegheny County announced a 100th Birthday Bash for the Andy Warhol Bridge on Saturday, June 27, from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m. Allegheny County Executive Sara Innamorato made the event official on Friday morning and said it will feature art, music, games, and more.
“Allegheny County’s history is filled with innovation and creativity, beautiful architecture, and talented homegrown artists, and the Andy Warhol Bridge encapsulates all of that in one iconic structure,” said Allegheny County Executive Sara Innamorato. “I hope everyone will come down for a fun day of art, community, and a shared celebration of our history on June 27.”
Part of the celebration will be art projects hosted and led by the Andy Warhol Museum and the Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh. Local artist Strawberry Luna will also create a special, commemorative poster celebrating the bridge’s history.
The Andy Warhol Bridge is the only bridge in the country to be named for a visual artist, according to Allegheny County.
“As our nation commemorates the U.S. Semiquincentennial, it is fitting that we recognize the oldest of the three Sister Bridges, which represent Pittsburgh’s tradition of innovation, ingenuity, and ‘we can do it’ spirit,” said Andy Masich, president and CEO of the Senator John Heinz History Center. “These iconic bridges, painted in ‘Aztec Gold’ as an homage to the city’s official colors, are symbols of Pittsburgh’s vibrancy, culture, and most importantly, its people.”
Formerly known as the Seventh Street Bridge, it was renamed the Andy Warhol Bridge in 2005 to honor the famous artist as well as the 10th anniversary of the Andy Warhol Museum, which is two blocks away.
Pittsburg, PA
Man critically injured after assault in Pittsburgh
A man was critically injured after being assaulted by a group of people in Pittsburgh’s East Liberty neighborhood on Thursday evening, authorities said.
Pittsburgh Public Safety said officers were called to South St. Clair and Eva streets around 5 p.m. for reports of a man who was assaulted by a group of people. The assault happened next to a Whole Foods store.
At the scene, which bordered a park with a playground, first responders found a man who was unconscious and not breathing. Officers and medics performed CPR on the man until he was taken to a local hospital in critical condition. The exact nature of his injuries was not released.
Pittsburgh Public Safety said “several males of unknown age” were detained and transported to police headquarters for questioning. It was not immediately known if any of them would be charged.
A KDKA-TV crew observed a second police scene nearby on Centre Avenue next to The Fresh Market, which was previously a Whole Foods. At that scene, KDKA-TV observed what appeared to be at least one teenager being taken into a police car. A witness told KDKA-TV they saw police questioning nearly 10 people, ranging from grade schoolers to teenagers.
Pittsburgh Public Safety did not say what led up to the assault.
“Those kids, whoever they were, need to be reprimanded for that, because that was horrible, horrible,” said Asia Wilter, who was nearby on Thursday evening.
Over the weekend, another man was assaulted outside a 7-Eleven store on Penn Avenue in Downtown Pittsburgh. Police say the assault started inside the 7-Eleven after the victim mentioned to an employee that he believed a group of teenage males was shoplifting.
Pittsburgh police say the victim scraped his elbow and had a small abrasion on his face. He refused to be transported to the hospital, but police say he went on his own to get checked out. Police are searching for the teens.
Earlier this month, six teenage girls were charged after authorities said they chased a woman into a Sephora store in East Liberty and beat her. Sephora’s loss prevention officer estimated the teens caused approximately $30,000 in damage.
Pittsburg, PA
Bystander helps students involved in school bus crash in Pittsburgh’s Highland Park neighborhood
Just before 8 a.m. on Thursday morning, a school bus rammed into a tree in Highland Park.
The students on the bus were being transported to Schiller STEAM Academy when the driver began to swerve, ultimately running off the road and colliding with the tree on Bryant Street.
According to EMS, about 10 students were on the bus, and they were evaluated on the scene. Medics on the scene determined the students had not been injured in the crash.
A woman who lived nearby heard the crash and immediately jumped into action to help the students.
“Utmost importance was the kids’ safety,” said Vinnie Branch, the bystander. “I just wanted to make sure they were safe, and I just went into mom mode to protect them.”
“I think it looks a lot worse than it turned out to be,” said Brian Haravan, Pittsburgh EMS District Chief. “Thankfully, the utility pole wasn’t damaged, so while the school bus and property were, everyone else seemed ok.”
The driver of the bus was taken to the hospital for evaluation, and the cause of the crash is under investigation.
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