Cam heyward of the pittsburgh steelers injured his groin and missed six games in 2023. He hasn’t played in an afc championship game since the 2016 season, when a torn pectoral muscle cost him his only chance to play. When heyward enters the final year of his contract in 2024, he will be 35 years old. Despite his injury, he is still the steelers’ best defensive lineman and the captain of the pittsburgh defense. Heyward returned to the field in week 9 of the 2023 season against the tennessee titans and helped the steelers win the game, 20-16. He played the remaining nine games on the schedule before being defeated by the buffalo bills in the afc wild card game, 31-17.
According to tom pelissero of nfl network, heyward, who recently received the nfl walter payton man of the year award, underwent surgery on monday to repair a groin/core muscle injury he sustained in week 1 against the san francisco 49ers. Heyward, for his part, remained positive and shared a snapshot from his hospital bed on instagram. “surgery done now!!!!” he captioned the photo. “we’re going to get back to feeling good!” the steelers hope to have their defensive captain fully healed by the time camp starts. The two-time all-pro was not done sharing on social media until after the instagram story.
Heyward told x that his recovery from injury was limited in the second half of the season. Heyward wrote, “done doing stuff on one leg like guys were doing on two legs.” Heyward’s streak of seven pro bowl selections ended in 2023 with six games away. Before the 2024 season begins, omar khan, andy weidl, and mike tomlin must also address the steelers’ depth on the defensive line. In heyward’s absence, keeanu benton emerged as a force, but the coaching staff systematically underutilized him.
Cam heyward of the pittsburgh steelers is enraged at anyone claiming he should take a pay cut heyward will contribute over $22 million to the steelers’ salary cap this season. Khan has publicly stated that he would not take a pay cut, but that he will need to use all of his artistry to free up funds for key free agents. Heyward isn’t the first steelers legend to face this issue.
