Cameron Heyward, a first-round choice in 2011, has been an important part of the Pittsburgh Steelers’ tough and resilient defense. The five-time Pro Bowler has been a fixture in the Steelers’ lineup, appearing in an astonishing 194 games over the course of 13 seasons.
After a rough 2023 season in which Heyward suffered with injuries, there are concerns about the lineman’s health and if he would return for a 14th season. The 34-year-old played only 12 games in 2023 (regular season and playoffs) and claimed he was injured for much of the season.
“I just played an entire season on one freakin’ leg where I could barely run for half the season,” Heyward stated on a recent episode of the Not Just Football podcast.
Last year, Heyward sustained a groin ailment and missed six NFL games. Throughout the season, he was clearly not at his best.
According to a Pro Football Talk report published on Tuesday, Heyword is out of surgery and healing. Steelers supporters will be hopeful that the surgery was successful and that their defensive hero will be healthy and ready to return in 2024.
Heyward insisted on returning to the Steelers next year, saying on the podcast, “I love playing football, and I want to play football.”
This season, the Steelers finished 10-7 and made the playoffs, however they were eliminated in the first round after a 31-17 loss to the Buffalo Bills. Mike Tomlin’s defense ranked tenth in the NFL during the regular season, allowing only 19.7 points per game.
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