Hiatus over as Heyward returns to team, OTAs

Ready to rejoin his teammates on the practice field but not ready to concede his desire for a new contract, Cameron Heyward ended his absence from the Pittsburgh Steelers on Tuesday.

After skipping the first phases of offseason workouts and the first two weeks of organized team activities, Heyward returned to UPMC Rooney Sports Complex and participated in the eighth scheduled OTA session.

“I’ve been busting my tail, but I thought it was important for me to come back,” Heyward said. “My job is to be the best player and best leader I can. I told you I’d get here when I get here.”

Heyward, 35, is entering the final season of his contract and remained away from the team in April and May to get an extension. Although that hasn’t transpired, Heyward said he will attend mandatory minicamp next week, and he will not hold out when training camp arrives in late July.

Heyward will make $16 million in 2024, and his contract counts $22.4 million against the salary cap. The Steelers did not ask Heyward to take a pay cut in the offseason — like they did with Ben Roethlisberger in 2021 — or restructure his contract to defer salary into future seasons.

Although his agent has held talks with the Steelers, Heyward didn’t sound optimistic a deal was in the works.

“We’ll see what happens,” he said. “If it’s my last year here, I’ve had a great career here, but I look forward to playing next year.”

Heyward was selected to the Pro Bowl for six consecutive seasons until that streak was interrupted in 2023. He also was named the NFL’s Walter Payton Man of the Year in February, the highest off-the-field honor a player can receive.

Heyward isn’t dealing from a position of strength, however. He played just 11 games last season, the second fewest of his career as he dealt with a nagging groin injury, and he recorded just two sacks.

“I’m looking to be here,” he said. “The value is what we decide, but I want to be valued at my position. I understand I came off a rough season, but I don’t think it’s a step down from where I play. When I’m at the top of my game, I’m still a top-five player at my position. I play the run and the pass, I bring leadership and that’s not anything I discount.”

Heyward is entering his 14th season with the Steelers. He wants to play three more years, which would take him through the 2026 season. Of all interior defensive linemen, 14 are scheduled to earn more than $16 million in base salary next year, according to overthecap.com.

Only four players in that group are in their 30s, with the oldest being former Steeler Javon Hargrave of the San Francisco 49ers at 31.

“There’s not a lot of history, but I’m here to make history,” Heyward said.

He has discussed with general manager Omar Khan and coach Mike Tomlin about the legacy associated with spending an entire career with one team, but he is prepared to leave the Steelers in 2025.

“There are certain guys that are one-helmet guys. I want to be one of those one-helmet guys,” he said. “There is a hunger and desire there, but that doesn’t mean hanging it up and calling it a career. I have more bullets to fire, and I’m excited to do that.”

Heyward missed six games last season after he aggravated an injury to the right side of his groin that was bothering him in training camp. He returned to play the final 10 games, those two sacks representing his only quarterback hits in that span.

After the season, Heyward had surgery to tighten the left side of his groin. When teammates reported to the South Side practice facility for offseason workouts, Heyward trained with former Steelers defensive lineman Tyson Alualu at a North Hills location.

“I’m able to run, do everything I want,” he said. “No limitations. I’ve got most of my strength. It’s about getting the cardio down. I’ve been pushing it, trying to get stronger and strengthen everything. Now, it’s about conditioning.”

Heyward joked with teammates during the stretch, then jumped into drills on the blocking sled — just like old times.

“It’s awesome having him back,” outside linebacker Alex Highsmith said. “He’s our captain, our leader, and having him back in the locker room and on the field, everyone’s excited about that.”

It remains to be seen how much work Heyward will do when training camp begins next month. Heyward hasn’t thought about whether he will conduct a “hold in” in which he attends practices but does not take part in team portions. T.J. Watt and Diontae Johnson used that stance in previous camps to hasten negotiations, and Minkah Fitzpatrick didn’t take part in team activities in the 2022 spring when he was awaiting a new deal.

“I don’t know what the work entails,” Heyward said. “When we get there, we’ll cross that bridge.”