(File Photo: Source for Photo: FILE – Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Darnell Washington warms up before an NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens, Dec. 7, 2025, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough, File)

PITTSBURGH (AP) — The Pittsburgh Steelers are making a big investment in tight end Darnell Washington.

The club signed the 6-foot-7, 264-pound Washington to a new five-year contract that will keep him in black and gold for the rest of the decade.

Washington, who had a career-best 31 receptions for 364 yards and a touchdown last season, was about to enter the final year of the rookie contract he signed after being selected in the third round of the 2023 draft.

The deal is the second extension signed by a member of Pittsburgh’s 2023 draft class this week. The team and outside linebacker Nick Herbig agreed to a five-year deal on Wednesday.

Washington, who plays well above his listed weight, often works as a sixth offensive lineman but has become increasingly involved in the passing game. First-year head coach Mike McCarthy has raved about Washington’s work ethic and his potential going forward.

“Love Darnell,” McCarthy said this week. “He’s been here every day, in the classroom, good student, he’s a pro’s pro. I’ve been very impressed with him.”

(Credit for Photo: AP Photo/Reed Hoffmann)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) The Pittsburgh Steelers have agreed to a one-year contract with veteran tight end Robert Tonyan, according to ESPN’s Brooke Pryor.

Tonyan, 32, recently participated in a tryout with the Steelers and will now join the team’s roster.

He spent six seasons with the Green Bay Packers from 2018-2023, where he played alongside current Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers. Tonyan was also coached by Steelers head coach Mike McCarthy when McCarthy was the head coach of the Packers in 2018.

Tonyan’s best season came in 2020, when he caught 52 passes for 586 yards and 11 touchdowns.

Last season, Tonyan appeared in all 17 games for the Kansas City Chiefs. He played primarily on special teams and recorded one reception.

Tonyan entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent in 2017 and has appeared in 107 career games with 24 starts for the Packers, Chicago Bears, Minnesota Vikings and Chiefs. He has totaled 149 receptions for 1,550 yards and 17 touchdowns during his career.

(Credit for Photo: Photo Courtesy of the Associated Press, Caption for Photo: Pittsburgh Steelers defensive tackle Keeanu Benton (95) celebrates after a sack during the first half of an NFL exhibition game against the Buffalo Bills, Saturday, Aug. 17, 2024, in Pittsburgh. The Bills won 9-3.

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) The Pittsburgh Steelers and defensive tackle Keeanu Benton have begun discussions on a potential contract extension, according to Alan Saunders of Steelers Now.

Benton, a second-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, is coming off a career year in 2025 in which he recorded 51 tackles and 5.5 sacks, including six tackles for loss.

(Credit for Photo: Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Russell Wilson scrambles out of the pocket during the NFL football team’s training camp in Latrobe, Pa., Tuesday, July 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Phil Pavely)

NEW YORK (AP) — Ten-time Pro Bowl quarterback Russell Wilson confirmed Wednesday in a video posted to social media that that he’s retiring from the NFL to take a job with CBS Sports.

Wilson’s announcement came two days after news broke that he was finalizing a deal to become an analyst on CBS’ Sunday NFL pregame show.

“As I enter this next chapter with CBS Sports and ‘The NFL Today,’ I’m so blessed to continue doing what I love most — being around the greatest game in the world,” he said in the video.

Wilson played 14 seasons after being taken by Seattle in the third round of the 2012 NFL draft out of N.C. State. He spent his first 10 seasons with the Seahawks, leading them to their first Super Bowl championship in the 2013 season. He was traded to Denver after the 2021 season and spent two rocky years with the Broncos before playing one season in Pittsburgh and another for the New York Giants.

Wilson threw for 46,966 yards, with 353 touchdown passes and 114 interceptions.

He joins Peyton Manning and Dan Marino as the only quarterbacks to throw at least 20 touchdown passes in each of their first three seasons and is one of seven quarterbacks to be selected to 10 Pro Bowls.

Wilson is the only player in NFL history with at least 30 touchdown passes and fewer than 15 interceptions in four straight seasons. He also had three seasons with at least 30 TD passes and 500 yards rushing, which is the most in NFL history.

In the video, which was about three minutes long, he thanked his teammates, friends and family and gave special thanks to former Seahawks coach Pete Carroll.

“Thanks for taking a chance on a young, 5-11 Black kid from Richmond, Virginia, that was told he was too small to ever make it in the NFL,” Wilson said.

Wilson is the shortest starting quarterback to win a Super Bowl.

Wilson will replace Matt Ryan, who joined the Atlanta Falcons as president of football after two seasons on “The NFL Today.” Wilson had considered returning for a 15th season, telling the New York Post last month that he was mulling an offer to join the New York Jets and back up Geno Smith.

His video featured highlights from his career and footage of him visiting patients at Seattle Children’s Hospital. It ended with him thanking his wife, Ciara, and the sport he dedicated his life to.

“I thank you, football. … I am forever grateful,” he said.

(File Photo: Source for Photo: Houston Astros’ Christian Walker (8) and Isaac Paredes (15) celebrate their runs scored on Cam Smith’s RBI triple for the go-ahead runs against the Pittsburgh Pirates during the eighth inning of a baseball game, Wednesday, June 3, 2026, in Houston. (AP Photo/Karen Warren)

HOUSTON (AP) — Cam Smith hit a tiebreaking two-run triple to cap Houston’s six-run eighth inning, Isaac Paredes homered and the Astros overcame a five-run deficit to beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 11-9 on Wednesday night.

Yordan Alvarez had four hits and two RBIs for the Astros. Smith and Paredes had two hits and three RBIs apiece, and Jeremy Peña went 2 for 3 with a double.

AJ Blubaugh (3-2) pitched the eighth inning to get the victory. Josh Hader made his season debut and worked a scoreless ninth for the save, ending the Pirates’ winning streak at four.

Houston starter Spencer Arrighetti, who went 4-1 in five starts with a 0.93 ERA in May, allowed four runs in four innings.

Henry Davis hit his first career grand slam in the fourth inning for Pittsburgh. Nick Gonzalez had a homer, double and three RBIs.

The Pirates have scored nine-plus runs in four consecutive games, the longest streak in the majors this season, and has struck out at least nine batters in eight straight games.

Pittsburgh’s Gregory Soto (4-1), who faced four batters, allowed three runs and three hits and walked one.

Up next

Pirates RHP Jared Jones (0-0, 10.48 ERA) was set to start Thursday against RHP Kai-Wei Teng (3-3, 2.57) in the series finale.

(File Photo of the PIAA Logo)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Beaver County, PA) Three Beaver Valley high school sports teams are still in the PIAA playoffs after their most recent victories. Quaker Valley girls lacrosse defeated Bellefonte yesterday 19-5. Blackhawk softball defeated Punxsutawney on Monday 12-6. Hopewell baseball defeated General McClane on Monday 9-1. The quarterfinal schedule has been released. According to reports from the Beaver County Times and the Butler Eagle, here is when these local teams will be playing:

Thursday, June 4th

PIAA high school baseball quarterfinal schedule

[WPIAL-No. 1] Indiana Vs [WPIAL-No. 3] Hopewell, Noon at Gateway (4A)

PIAA high school softball quarterfinal schedule

[WPIAL-No. 2] Blackhawk Vs [D12-No. 3 Bonner Prendie, 3 p.m. at Mifflin County High School (4A)

Saturday, June 6th

PIAA high school lacrosse (girls)

Quaker Valley vs. Wyomissing, TBD

(Credit for Photo: (AP Photo/Nick Wass) Caption for Photo: Washington Commanders safety Darnell Savage in action during the second half of an NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks, Sunday, Nov. 2, 2025, in Landover, Maryland.

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) The Pittsburgh Steelers have signed veteran safety Darnell Savage to a one-year contract. 

Savage, 28, has appeared in 88 games with 82 starts during his seven NFL seasons. He was a first-round pick by the Green Bay Packers in 2019 and spent five seasons in Green Bay before stints with the Jacksonville Jaguars, Washington Commanders and Buffalo Bills. 

Over his career, Savage has recorded 367 tackles, 10 interceptions, 40 passes defended, 11 tackles for loss, three forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and one sack. One of his interceptions was returned for a touchdown. 

In 2025, Savage appeared in 12 games with the Jaguars, Commanders and Bills, totaling 25 tackles, three passes defended and one forced fumble. 

(File Photo: Source for Photo: Pittsburgh Pirates’ Oneil Cruz (15) celebrates his three-run home run against Houston Astros starting pitcher Mike Burrows during the sixth inning of a baseball game, Tuesday, June 2, 2026, in Houston. (AP Photo/Karen Warren)

HOUSTON (AP) — Oneil Cruz and Brandon Lowe hit three-run homers and Endy Rodríguez added a two-run shot to power the Pittsburgh Pirates to a 10-6 win over the Houston Astros on Tuesday night.

Jake Mangum tied a career-high with four hits to help the Pirates to their fourth straight victory.

Yordan Alvarez had three RBIs and hit his 21st home run, which ranks second in the majors behind Kyle Schwarber’s 22. But his big game wasn’t enough to keep the Astros from their third loss in four games.

The Pirates trailed by 2 with no outs and two on in the sixth before Cruz launched his 14th homer of the season into the bullpen in right-center field to give them a 5-4 lead.

Lowe’s home run, which clanged off the foul pole in right field, came in the eighth to make it 9-4.

Pittsburgh starter Bubba Chandler (2-6) allowed five hits and four runs — three earned — in five innings.

Houston added two runs in the ninth to cut the lead to 4 before loading the bases with one out off Dennis Santana. Gregory Soto took over and struck out the next two batters for his eighth save.

Mike Burrows (3-7) permitted eight hits and six runs — five earned — in five-plus innings after being traded from Pittsburgh to Houston in December.

Jeremy Peña hit a leadoff single before Alvarez gave Houston an early lead with his opposite field shot to left field.

There was one out in the second when Rodríguez hit his first home run this season to tie it 2-2.

Peña reached on an error by Nick Gonzales with no outs in the third before Alvarez walked. The Astros took a 3-2 lead when Peña scored on a single by Christian Walker.

Brice Matthews hit a one-out single in the fourth and moved to third on a single by Christian Vázquez. Matthews scored when Peña lined into a force out that made it 4-2.

Up Next

Pittsburgh RHP Paul Skenes (6-5, 2.89 ERA) opposes RHP Spencer Arrighetti (7-1, 1.34) on Wednesday night.

(File Photo: Source for Photo: Pittsburgh Steelers linebackers Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker T.J. Watt (90) and Nick Herbig participate in the team’s NFL football practice in Pittsburgh, Tuesday, June 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) Linebacker Nick Herbig says he wants to be a Pittsburgh Steeler for life. He appears to be on his way after agreeing to a contract extension with the club today. 

Sources told people like ESPN’s Adam Schefter that the deal is four years for $100 million, including $42 million guaranteed. 

Herbig, 24, a fourth-round pick out of Wisconsin in 2023, is coming off a career-best seven-and-a-half sacks last season. He skipped portions of practice at the start of mandatory minicamp while his agent and the Steelers finalized the details of the extension. 

Herbig isn’t the only young Pittsburgh defender seeking a new deal. Cornerback Joey Porter Jr. has said he wants to be among the highest-paid players at his position in the NFL.

(Credit for Photo: Photo Courtesy of MLB.com, Photo of the Pirate Parrot)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) The Pirate Parrot, the mascot of the Pittsburgh Pirates, ranked third in a new survey by Bovada Sportsbook that measured the popularity of Major League Baseball mascots.

According to Bovada, the survey polled 3,000 MLB fans and ranked 28 mascots based on entertainment value, humor and fan engagement.

The Pirate Parrot received a score of 6.25 out of 10.

The mascot finished behind the Philadelphia Phillies’ Philly Phanatic, which ranked first, and the Baltimore Orioles’ Oriole Bird, which placed second.

Here is the results of this survey, according to a release from Bovada:

Rank	Mascot	Team	Entertaining	Humorous	Engaging	Final score
1	Phillie Phanatic	Philadelphia Phillies	35.20%	30.93%	18.33%	10.00
2	The Oriole Bird	Baltimore Orioles	29.57%	21.83%	15.87%	6.55
3	Pirate Parrot	Pittsburgh Pirates	27.83%	23.07%	15.27%	6.25
4	Wally the Green Monster	Boston Red Sox	26.80%	21.03%	14.27%	5.36
5	Mr. Met & Mrs. Met	New York Mets	25.37%	19.73%	14.60%	5.00
6	Mariner Moose	Seattle Mariners	25.10%	20.70%	13.70%	4.81
7	Bernie Brewer	Milwaukee Brewers	25.60%	19.57%	13.70%	4.70
8	Clark the Cub	Chicago Cubs	23.93%	17.87%	13.60%	4.07
9	Billy the Marlin	Miami Marlins	23.17%	18.07%	13.07%	3.79
10	PAWS	Detroit Tigers	22.33%	17.93%	12.23%	3.32