First Call: Cameron Heyward's quote on Aaron Donald comps; Steelers work out pass rushers; Diamondbacks next for hot Pirates

We’ve got a headline-catching quote from Pittsburgh Steelers star Cameron Heyward regarding Penn Hills native Aaron Donald.

The Steelers are trying to fill a defensive void. We mix in some soccer talk about Team USA. And we get a scouting report on the Pirates’ next opponent after sweeping the Dodgers.

All that in Thursday’s “First Call.”

As good as A.D.?

As easy going as Cameron Heyward’s persona appears to be, you might assume nothing really makes him mad.

The way he plays, you might think everything angers him.

During a recent podcast with ESPN’s Mina Kimes, Heyward said he gets upset when people classify Los Angeles Rams star Aaron Donald as being in a class by himself when it comes to successful interior defensive linemen.

“It (ticks) me off, hands down,” Heyward said. “I think I’m one (of), if not the, most complete player at my position. I know Aaron is a really talented guy. But don’t just shy away and say, ‘Oh, it’s Aaron Donald and everybody else.’ (Expletive) It’s Cam and Aaron and everybody else.”

In his 11th season, Heyward had 89 tackles. That’s a career high. He also had 10 sacks, the second time he got into double digits in his career.

In 2021, Donald had a career-high 84 tackles and 12.5 sacks. It’s the sixth time the Pitt product has had 11 or more sacks in his career.

Also in that podcast, Heyward said he wants to play at least five more years. That’d make him 38 before he retires.

Filling a hole?

One major area of need for the Steelers is finding a third pass rushing outside linebacker.

T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith appear set as starters. But the most accomplished players after them are … who, exactly? Derrek Tuszka? Genard Avery? Delontae Scott?

Oops, I forgot. Tuzar Skipper is coming back. Are we going to start pretending he is Lawrence Taylor again?

Maybe they’ll try to sign another Melvin Ingram again this season. Except, this time, a version of that guy who actually wants to be here.

Short of that, maybe they’ll get one of these guys, all players ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reports worked out for the Steelers.

The Steelers are working out several pass rushers, per sources - Wyatt Ray, Ifeadi Odenigbo and Trent Harris. Pittsburgh should have a roster spot open after a release last week and could sign one of these three.

— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) June 1, 2022

Odenigbo is the most recognizable name of the group. Between stops in Arizona, New York (Giants) and Minnesota, he’s totaled 10.5 sacks over four seasons.

Ray is a 25-year-old Boston College product. He played with the Cincinnati Bengals last year and the Tennessee Titans in 2020 and has two career sacks.

Harris also has two career sacks during his three years with the Miami Dolphins and New York Giants.

More in the stands

U.S. National soccer team standout Christian Pulisic isn’t happy with the lack of fan turnout at the squad’s most recent game in Cincinnati.

The American team won the contest over Morocco 3-0. There were officially 19,512 fans in attendance at FC Cincinnati’s TQL Stadium. It seats 26,000.

“I’m not super happy with the amount of Americans here, however that works out, if I’m being completely honest,” Pulisic said via ESPN.com after the match. “But thanks to the ones who did come, and the support is always great from them.”

Pulisic is from Hershey, Pa. His father, Mark, is a former Pittsburgh Riverhounds assistant.

Next up for the U.S. is a match against Uruguay in Kansas City on Sunday. That contest will be followed by a pair of CONCACAF Nations League games. The first will be against Grenada in Austin, Texas, on June 10. Then they’ll play a road game against El Salvador four days later.

England, Iran and the winner of Sunday’s UEFA World Cup playoff between Wales and Ukraine will be Team USA’s competition in Group B play of the World Cup.

Snakes off the plane

The Pirates come back to PNC Park on cloud nine.

They just swept a three-game series from the National League West-leading Los Angeles Dodgers. Now they get the Arizona Diamondbacks at PNC Park for a three-game weekend set starting Friday.

The Diamondbacks just took two of three from the Atlanta Braves. That was after losing four in a row versus the Dodgers over Memorial Day weekend.

Arizona is 25-27, fourth place in the National League West, nine games back of the Dodgers for first place. They have an 11-11 record away from home and a minus-49 run differential overall.