Steelers' Cam Heyward Misses Exciting Victory Over Atlanta Due To Injury

The Pittsburgh Steelers wiped out the Atlanta Falcons on the road in a 24-0 victory last Thursday night, securing a spotless 2023 NFL preseason record. With their performance as a depth unit that can attack the quarterback and stifle the run in front, the Steelers made a big statement. The formidable duo of T.J. Watt and Nick Herbig, accompanied by the exceptional talents of Elandon Roberts, Quincy Roche, and Tody Ndukwe, executed their defensive prowess by skillfully gaining sacks. The same cannot be said for others on the team's roster, however, since certain players—notably defensive lineman Cameron Heyward—are dealing with injuries.

In the last week leading up to their preseason finale, Pittsburgh suffered two new injuries among Heyward and offensive guard James Daniels. Head Coach Mike Tomlin did not specify the severity of Heyward's injury, but he did indicate that the problem is minimal. As of right now, there shouldn't be any cause for concern before he faces the San Francisco 49ers in Week 1. Tomlin also stated that guard Nate Herbig, defensive tackle Larry Ogunjobi, and defensive back Tre Norwood are all attempting to regain their availability in regard to their injury situations. 

On Thursday, Nate Herbig and Kevin Dotson were unable to participate in the game due to shoulder injuries, while Keeanu Benton, Norwood, and Nick Kwiatkoski all managed to compete against the Falcons despite dealing with ankle, calf, and shoulder issues respectively. 

The status of Joey Porter Jr. as a starter still remains uncertain following his absence from the initial preseason game due to an ankle injury. However, it is highly probable that he will play extensively throughout the season, considering the Steelers' dynamic strategy in rotating their cornerbacks. This presents an ideal opportunity for Porter to showcase his skills alongside Levi Wallace, especially since Pittsburgh has been utilizing veteran Patrick Peterson as a safety in certain matchups during practice. 

As one of the league's most effective defensive tackles, Heyward has already established himself in that purview. Since 2017, the 31-year-old lineman has largely been unstoppable up front, recording 29 sacks and 179 tackles. Heyward was named to his second All-Pro team and third consecutive Pro Bowl after recording a career-high 83 tackles in 2019. In 2022, he participated in 17 games and had 10.5 sacks, giving him a total of 20.5 over the previous two seasons and 78.5 total quarterback takedowns since he began his NFL career in 2011.

Heyward responded to a tweet on his prospective candidacy for the Hall of Fame.

"I want it and I'll work my tail off to prove it."

Heyward's career in Pittsburgh can only be described as extraordinary. The lineman has achieved an impressive record, earning the distinction of being selected for the Pro Bowl six times in a row and being named to the First-Team AP All-Pro three times over a span of 12 seasons. In addition, since 2015, Heyward has proudly served as the team's captain, a role he unquestionably takes seriously and consistently proves his worthiness for.

Heyward will once more be expected to assume a leadership position throughout the 2023 season due to the large number of newcomers. It is reasonable to assume that despite this small injury preventing Heyward from playing, he should be ready to return in a few weeks. 

For their first regular season game, the Steelers will have some particularly challenging choices to make among their offensive and defensive lines. At tight end, where rookie Darnell Washington is obviously progressing ahead of schedule in his development as a route runner and pass-catching tight end, more difficult decisions may also need to be made. Zach Gentry has been a reliable TE2 in Pat Freiermuth's absence, but he may be removed within the next few days to make room for someone on the lines or in the secondary.

What are your thoughts for the Steelers as they prepare to take on the 49ers? Will Heyward continue to make an impact for them once he's healthy? Let us know in the comments below!

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