Steelers Now
PITTSBURGH — Pittsburgh Steelers defensive tackle Cam Heyward was wearing a walking boot on his foot in the team’s locker room after practice on Friday. Heyward did not have the boot on when he was photographed in the early portion of the team’s practice.
Heyward did not practice for the team on Wednesday or Thursday, but was listed as a resting veteran both days. The Steelers have not yet released their injury report or game status for Friday’s game.
If Heyward is unable to start, rookie Derrick Harmon would likely be elevated to the starting lineup alongside Keeanu Benton, and fellow rookie Yahya Black would be the next man up in the base 3-4 defense.
Heyward, the Steelers’ oldest defense player at 36 years old, has not missed a game this season, and hasn’t missed a game since Week 7 of there 2023 season, when he dealt with a sports hernia surgery and a groin injury. He missed six games that season, but has played in 37 consecutive games since then.
In the Steelers’ Week 11 win over there Cincinnati Bengals, he moved into sole possession of second place on the team’s all-time games played list, passing Mike Webster with 221 games, and is now behind only Ben Roethlisberger.
“I think it’s unbelievable. He’s a unicorn, to be as elderly as he is, to play as well as he’s playing,” Steelers defensive coordinator Teryl Austin said last week. “I think it’s really a testament to him and his work ethic and the things that he does to stay prepared and engaged. That’s the one thing, like, when you’re around him, he’s almost like a 24-year-old new guy in the building.
This article originally appeared on Steelers Now: Steelers DT Cam Heyward Dealing with Apparent Injury
