Some shocking news broke on Wednesday night about Steelers veteran defensive tackle Cameron Heyward.
According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, Heyward has not attended voluntary offseason workouts and does not plan to attend OTAs as he seeks a contract extension, entering the final year of his four-year, $64 million extension he signed in September 2020.
Heyward, who is a longtime team captain and was just named the 2023 Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year, has since broken his silence.
“First of all, it’s voluntary. Let’s get that straight. I’m working out, doing everything,” Heyward said on his “Not Just Football” podcast. “I have always attended these, but at this time, it’s just contract negotiations, and I want to be a Pittsburgh Steeler, but we’ll see what happens.”
Heyward has spent his entire 13-year NFL career in Pittsburgh, and it would be surprising if he wore anything other than the black and gold before hanging up his cleats for good.
However, if he overestimates his value, his contract holdout could extend into the summer, leaving his future with the team in doubt.
Heyward is 35 and coming off an injury-riddled season in which he tore his groin and had core muscle surgery. He finished the year with just 33 tackles and two sacks in 11 games.
The six-time Pro Bowler even debated retirement following the Steelers’ loss to the Buffalo Bills in the wild-card round of the playoffs last season but has since revealed he believes he has plenty of gas left in the tank.
“My goal is to play two to three more years. Mostly three,” Heyward told Alan Saunders of Steelers Now. “I’m looking for an opportunity. We’ll see what happens. I’d like it to be here, but my goal is to play. So we’ll see.”
Only time will tell if Pittsburgh will give Heyward the long-term commitment he wants. He doesn’t seem interested in taking a hometown discount, either.
