First Call: Steelers make 2nd visit to Arizona State; more problems for Ravens

In “First Call” Thursday, the Pittsburgh Steelers may have eyes on some skill position players at a school out west. We know the officiating crew for the game in Ireland. The Pirates could deal a painful blow to the Reds.

And the Baltimore Ravens are dealing with another big-time problem.

Devil down the road

Brad Denny of 3TV/CBS 5 in Arizona spotted Steelers assistant general manager Andy Weidl at Arizona State practice on Wednesday. He was speaking with the team’s offensive coordinator Marcus Arroyo.

Steelers assistant GM Andy Weidl talking with ASU OC Marcus Arroyo after practice. pic.twitter.com/RkZiySOB76

— Brad Denny (@BDenny29) September 24, 2025

Quarterback Sam Leavitt and wide receiver Jordyn Tyson are believed to be draftable offensive prospects on the Sun Devils team. Tyson leads the Big 12 in receiving yards (357), catches (31) and touchdowns (5). His position coach is Steelers legend Hines Ward.

Junior running back Raleek Brown also has 372 yards on the ground, second most in the conference.

It’s the second visit to the Sun Devils’ campus this year for the Steelers. Denny noted that eight other teams were in attendance too.

Irish eyes are … watching

Brad Allen’s officiating crew will be working the Steelers game in Ireland on Sunday.

He was the referee in charge when the Detroit Lions were infamously tagged with an incorrect ineligible receiver call on a two-point conversion back in 2023.

Allen has been an official for 12 years. His crew worked the Steelers’ Week 12 win (24-19) over the Browns. That afternoon, Pittsburgh was hit with six penalties. Cleveland got eight. Five of the total calls were false starts.

On average, this crew administered almost three false starts per game last year, via NFLpenalties.com.

This crew had its bye in advance of the Ireland trip last week, so it has only worked two games, throwing just seven flags in the Miami-Indianapolis opener, and 12 in their second game of the season at Cleveland when the Browns hosted the Baltimore Ravens.

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Problems mounting

A 1-2 start and Derrick Henry’s fumbling issues aren’t all of the problems in Baltimore.

Defensive tackle Nnamdi Madubuike has been ruled out for Sunday’s game at Kansas City with a neck ailment. Head coach John Harbaugh seems to have reservations over how long the Pro Bowler will be absent beyond this week.

Ravens DT Nnamdi Madubuike (neck) has been ruled out for Sunday's game at Kansas City.

Harbaugh did express concern over Madubuike's injury. pic.twitter.com/H3MPQpGf7X

— Jamison Hensley (@jamisonhensley) September 24, 2025

“I would say I am concerned about it,” Harbaugh said Wednesday via ESPN.com. “But I’m not really in a position to comment on it right now. I haven’t been given the OK to comment on it at this point.”

Madubuike reported the issue after Baltimore’s Week 2 win over Cleveland.

According to ESPN.com’s Jamison Hensley, the Ravens allowed 207 yards rushing between the tackles in Monday’s 38-30 loss to the Detroit Lions. That’s the most they’ve allowed in a game since ESPN began tracking the stat in 2006. Baltimore also didn’t record a sack. That hasn’t happened since 2021.

If the Ravens fall to 1-3, it’ll be the first time since 2015.

Bring the brooms

The Pirates are looking for a damaging sweep against the Cincinnati Reds on Thursday. The Bucs won the first two games of the series — 4-2 on Tuesday and 4-3 in 11 innings Wednesday.

Thursday’s starter is Braxton Ashcraft. He’s 4-3 with a 2.62 ERA. We’ll see how long he pitches. Ashcraft has only gone beyond three innings once since Aug. 28. That’s when he soaked up four innings in a 4-0 loss to the Chicago Cubs on Sept. 15.

The Reds counter with Nick Lodolo. The 6-foot-6 lefty is 8-8 with a 3.44 ERA and 144 strikeouts. He hasn’t won a game since July 23. On May 9, Lodolo and the Reds beat the Pirates, 7-1. He allowed only one run over six innings, striking out seven while walking only one.

The Reds begin the day tied with Arizona at 80-78, one game back of the New York Mets for the National League’s last wild card spot.