First Call: Steelers slated to work out CB Asante Samuel Jr.; Alex Ovechkin scores No. 900

Thursday’s “First Call” tells us that the Pittsburgh Steelers are working out an interesting free agent cornerback. There is a notable nugget about this week’s officiating crew for Steelers-Chargers. Los Angeles has another injury to track. This one is on special teams.

And Alex Ovechkin gets goal No. 900 before coming to Pittsburgh.

Seeking Samuel

Some additional help in the secondary may be on the way for the Steelers.

According to Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com, Asante Samuel Jr. is scheduled to visit Pittsburgh next week. The free agent cornerback is also slated to visit Green Bay, San Francisco and Chicago.

He’s already stopped by the Carolina Panthers’ facilities.

Asante Samuel Jr. has a packed free agency visit schedule, per source:

Panthers today, Packers on Thursday,
Vikings on Friday, 49ers on Monday, Bears on Tuesday, Steelers on Wednesday https://t.co/1WrO3XRjPg

— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) November 5, 2025

Samuel was recently cleared to return to play after offseason neck surgery. Via SteelersNow.com, “Steelers team neurosurgeon Dr. David Okonkwo is the one who performed the surgery on Samuel and cleared him to return to action.”

Samuel was injured as a member of the Los Angeles Chargers last year and had surgery in April.

The Florida State product was a second-round pick in 2021. Samuel’s father was a four-time Pro Bowler, playing with New England, Philadelphia and Atlanta.

Ref report

We know the referee assignments for this week’s NFL games, via FootballZebras.com.

Brad Rodgers’ crew will be working Sunday night in L.A. when the Chargers host the Steelers. This is the first time Rodgers will be assigned to a Steelers or Chargers game this year.

That group is coming off a Week 9 bye. Rodgers worked two Steelers wins last year when the team went to Atlanta and Washington. He and his fellow officials threw nine flags against the Steelers in the opener at Atlanta and five against them in Washington. He also worked a 26-3 Los Angeles win in Carolina.

Something to be aware of, as noted at NFLPenalties.com, no crew whistles the home team less than Rodgers at 5.71 flags per game. Of the 17 crews in football, Rodgers’ crew is 12th in total flags thrown per game at 12.57.

More sports

• Mark Madden: Penguins should create hype by starting rookie Sergei Murashov vs. Capitals
• U mad, bro?: Steelers fans irate over lack of trade acquisitions, Joey Porter Jr.'s penalties
• WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling happy to be reunited with Aaron Rodgers, join Steelers practice squad

A note to remember

The Chargers aren’t only banged up along the offensive line, they’ve got a special teams issue to watch as well.

Their long snapper, Rick Lovato, just retired. He was likely to be released anyway.

Lovato had been playing because the team’s usual long snapper, Josh Harris, has been hurt since August. He suffered a chest injury while making a tackle in the preseason. But, according to ProFootballTalk.com, Harris is expected back this week. He tried to get back to action last week against Tennessee.

Lovato won two Super Bowl rings in Philadelphia and was a Pro Bowler in 2019.

The organization also signed long snapper Peter Bowen to the practice squad as apparent insurance.

More than Murashov

With the Penguins in action Thursday night at PPG Paints Arena against Washington, hockey fans in Pittsburgh are honed in on one specific aspect of the Penguins.

The promotion of Sergei Murashov and the potential of him playing against the Capitals on Thursday night.

Whenever the goalie does debut, he’ll be the seventh rookie to play a game this season for the Penguins. The 21-year-old has gone 5-2-0 with a 1.73 goals-against average, a .931 save percentage and a shutout in the American Hockey League with Wilkes-Barre. He was named the AHL Goaltender of the Month for October.

Sergei Murashov, who was named AHL goaltender of the month for October after going 5-1-0 with a GAA of 1.68, on his level of confidence. pic.twitter.com/Qr1aBTFarV

— Dan Potash (@DanPotashTV) November 5, 2025

Also, Murashov’s fellow rookie, Ben Kindel, may be skating on Sidney Crosby’s line throughout the game. He did so in practice Wednesday. Plus, veterans Danton Heinen and Ryan Graves have been recalled to the NHL club.

Then, of course, there is the opponent. The Caps come into town off a 6-1 win over St. Louis on Wednesday night. Along the way, Alex Ovechkin scored his NHL record 900th goal.

900 NHL GOALS FOR ALEX OVECHKIN!!! ???? pic.twitter.com/4HeKNfluoF

— NHL (@NHL) November 6, 2025

In a funny twist, Blues goalie Jordan Binnington tried to make off with the puck. But he got busted.

Blues goaltender Jordan Binnington tried to keep the puck for Alex Ovechkin's 900th goal ????

Gotta respect the effort ???? pic.twitter.com/g40TrMVglI

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) November 6, 2025

That was Ovechkin’s third goal of the year and his first since Oct. 24. That was also the date of Washington’s last win. They had lost four in a row before that blowout of the Blues.

The Capitals have 15 points in 13 games, tied for fourth in the Metropolitan Division with Philadelphia. The Pens are in a tie atop the division with 18 points, despite dropping three of their last four.