The Pittsburgh Steelers are coming into their 2023 Week 9 matchup against the Tennessee Titans a bit more beat up than they would like, but one piece of news has their spirits higher than they were before for sure. While Minkah Fitzpatrick will miss the Thursday night game and Kenny Pickett is looking to bounce back from a rib injury, Cameron Heyward is back from injured reserve and ready to make an impact again.
Jordan Schofield / SteelerNation (Twitter / X: @JSKO_PHOTO)
Pittsburgh Steelers defensive lineman Cameron Heyward will be needed to make up for the lack of Minkah Fitzpatrick against the Titans in Week 9 of 2023.
Steelers Defense Eager For Heyward Boost
The Steelers have struggled throughout the 2023 season, but it has been made all the more difficult as they try to survive a myriad of injuries to their star players. Heyward has been out since their 2023 Week 1 loss to the San Francisco 49ers, after which he underwent surgery on his groin. After watching offenses win at the line of scrimmage week after week, having Heyward back will certainly bolster a defensive line that is searching for its identity.
We have activated DT Cam Heyward from the Reserve/Injured List to the active roster. @BordasLawhttps://t.co/fOnQXLFIgL
— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) November 1, 2023
Sitting at 4-3 with more questions than answers, Pittsburgh knows that this game against the Titans is one that could set the tone for the remainder of the season. After Fitzpatrick's injury rose to the level where he could be out for an extended period of time, getting their defensive stalwart back is something that can only lift the spirits and hopes of both the players and the fans. A massive amount of expectations have been heaped upon this defense, and considering how heavily invested the Steelers are on that side of the football, those expectations aren't too much to ask of a stellar squad.
Peter Diana / Post-Gazette
Pittsburgh Steelers defenders Cameron Heyward (left) and TJ Watt (right) will be relied on to get the 2023 Steelers towards any kind of success.
Steelers Desperately Need Their Dominant Defensive Line Back
Going into their 2023 Week 9 matchup against Tennessee, Pittsburgh is ranked 23rd in the NFL defensively against the run, something that is far below what is normally acceptable. It doesn't make things easier to know that waiting on the other side of that dubiously ranked defense is Derrick Henry, who is incredibly hard to bring down when he goes up against the best teams.
— Cam Heyward (@CamHeyward) November 1, 2023
In 2023, the Steelers can't rely on their mediocre offense to carry a game, so the weight falls onto the defense. In 2022, that strategy was the same, except when TJ Watt went down for the first half of the season, the recipe was all thrown off. As 2023 chugs along, thanks to another season without any hint of creativity by Offensive Coordinator Matt Canada, the Steelers are yet again indebted to their defense for the rocky 4-3 at which they stand. It hardly represents the struggles that have defined their 2023 campaign, but it does show the tenacity and resolve that still exists in this team.
%202023%20Camp%20Final%20with%20Logos/2L9A7782-544x306.jpg "Steelers Kenny Pickett")
Jordan Schofield / SteelerNation (Twitter / X: @JSKO_PHOTO)
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Kenny Pickett (#8) has a reputation for fourth quarter comebacks during his short career.
While it is thrilling to watch the Steelers get to the fourth quarter and somehow make it a game again or even come back to win, that isn't a sustainable method for success in the NFL. If you start counting at Week 5 of 2022, no one in the NFL has led more fourth quarter drives where he tied or went ahead for his team than Pickett. You can't take anything away from the dramatic victories that Pittsburgh has been able to put together since Ben Roethlisberger retired following the 2021 season. Still, you can't keep expecting it, either.
How will Cam Heyward impact the Thursday night game against the Titans? Comment below!
#SteelerNation
