Pittsburgh Steelers defensive lineman Cam Heyward is softening his stance on his high-profile clash with Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen — and in an exclusive interview with Heavy.com, he is putting the focus on his own penalty and trying to move on.
The Bills’ 26-7 win over the Steelers featured several heated moments between Heyward and Allen, including a second-half exchange that ended in an unsportsmanlike conduct flag on Heyward as Buffalo pulled away and improved to 8-4 on the season.
Heyward: ‘More Bonehead on Me’ for Penalty After Allen Dust-Up
In the days after the loss, Heyward made national headlines by accusing Allen of intentionally kneeing him in the stomach after a run, saying he was “ticked off the entire game” and frustrated by how protected quarterbacks are compared to defensive linemen.
When he spoke with Heavy.com, Heyward’s tone had changed. Asked how he feels about the situation now that emotions have cooled, the Steelers captain said he is ready to leave it behind.
“No,” Heyward said, when asked if there was anything he wanted people to understand about the incident that they did not see on TV or social media. “Honestly I’m kind of past it at this point. I think things were done. I’m going to move on. I’m going to focus on what I can control.”
Then he turned the criticism on himself.
“More bonehead on me for even picking up a penalty and even reacting to it later,” Heyward added. “Football is meant to be played and I’m going to do my job to make sure we move past this and that’s all I can do.”
How the Incident Started Between Heyward & Allen
The flashpoint came in the first half, when Allen kept the ball on a third-and-3 run and fought for extra yards. Heyward later told reporters he believed Allen purposefully drove his knee into Heyward’s stomach as the two untangled from the pile, sparking a series of jawing matches that cameras caught throughout the game.
On broadcast replays, the alleged knee was difficult to see clearly, which only fueled debate online. Some fans and analysts sided with Heyward, arguing that even a subtle shot would cross a line; others said the video did not show enough to accuse Allen of a dirty play.
Allen mostly took the high road publicly, calling Heyward “such a great player” and saying the competitive fire between them might have even helped him get going as the Bills’ offense settled in.
Heavy.com Exclusive Came While Heyward Promoted Asthma Campaign
Heyward spoke with Heavy.com one-on-one while promoting his partnership with AstraZeneca to raise awareness about eosinophilic asthma and a simple blood test that can help patients and doctors better understand certain severe forms of the disease. Earlier Monday, Heavy published a separate exclusive feature on Heyward’s life with asthma, his game-day routine with his inhaler and nebulizer, and the warning signs he wants fans to take seriously.
The follow-up conversation about Allen and the Bills game gave Heyward a chance to add new context to a story that had already been picked up by major national outlets, including ESPN, CBS Sports and others, after his postgame comments about being kneed “in my stomach” went viral.
What It Means Going Forward for Heyward & the Steelers
Heyward’s exclusive comments to Heavy.com — stressing that he is “past it” and calling his own penalty “bonehead” — suggest he is trying to lower the temperature around the incident and redirect attention to the Steelers’ stretch run.
The NFL routinely reviews potential on-field infractions on Mondays and can levy fines even when no flag is thrown or when only one player is penalized. Any discipline for Heyward, Allen or others involved would typically be announced later in the week.
In the meantime, Heyward said his body is “holding up really well” despite a physical season and acknowledged “it’s not the season we all hoped for,” but believes there is still “a lot of meaningful football in front of us” if Pittsburgh can clean up mistakes — including emotional penalties.
For the Steelers, that likely means their defensive leader staying on the field, avoiding further controversy with one of the league’s top quarterbacks and proving that, as Heyward put it, he is focused on “what I can control” instead of a feud he now insists belongs in the past.
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This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
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