The Pittsburgh Steelers could have a problem on their hands. Veteran defensive lineman Cameron Heyward is seeking a new contract before the 2025 NFL season, and he has not participated in team drills this month.
Heyward told reporters Monday that to get a new deal he “is prepared to sit out” regular season games.
In typical Mike Tomlin fashion, though, he expressed not being worried about what could or might happen with Heyward and his contract standoff.
“Not as I sit here today, no,” said Tomlin on Monday when asked if Heyward’s potential availability down the road concerns him.
“You guys know I’m not into the hypothetical discussions.”
Instead, Tomlin tried to convey that things have been business as usual with Heyward and the team.
“Cam’s been doing this a long time,” Tomlin told reporters. “I don’t work Cam a lot in these scenarios.
“Anyway, I need to know more about Derrick Harmon, Yahya Black and others, Logan Lee. So that’s been the mindset.”
Mike Tomlin, Teryl Austin Show No Concern Over Cameron Heyward Availability
Steelers defensive coordinator Teryl Austin shared Tomlin’s unconcerned attitude about Heyward’s lack of team practice time in training camp.
“He’s in every meeting. He is a leader,” Austin said to the media Monday, via SI on Steelers’ Jacob Punturi. “The stuff that he feels he has to do, that’s what he’s taking care of. We’re out there playing. He’s helping. He’s doing all the things he can until it’s time to really get going.”
Austin added a joke about Heyward already receiving “like 63,000” practice reps in his career, which should make him ready for the regular season.
Heyward has aged like fine wine during his NFL career. He made his first Pro Bowl and All-Pro team in his seventh season during 2017. Since then, Heyward has arguably put together a Hall of Fame resume with five All-Pro nominations, including four first-team bids, and seven Pro Bowls.
Last season, Heyward made first-team All-Pro and the Pro Bowl with eight sacks, 12 tackles for loss, 20 quarterback hits and 11 pass defenses at 35 years old.
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