
Steelers All-Pro Cam Heyward, who did not get his desired contract extension in the offseason, sat out practice on Thursday, three days before Pittsburgh’s season opener against the New York Jets.
Heyward didn’t address his absence with media. The Steelers officially listed his absence as a non-injury rest day on the team’s practice report: “No. 97 DT Cam Heyward (NIR – Resting Vet) – DNP.”
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Linebacker Nick Herbig (hamstring) and defensive tackle Derrick Harmon (knee) were the other Steelers to miss practice Thursday, both with injury designations.
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Heyward, 36, is entering his 15th NFL season, all of them with the Steelers. His absence at practice generated buzz from Steelers beat writers. ESPN’s Brooke Pryor offered some context once his official designation landed.
Per Pryor, Heyward has taken veteran rest days on Thursdays in previous years, but he practiced on the Thursday prior to last year’s season opener.
Heyward was a hold-in for much of training camp this summer as he sought a contract extension that he did not get. On Aug. 11, he told reporters that it’s hard to “justify playing at the number I’m playing at.”
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Heyward returned to practice on Aug. 19 after beginning his hold-in on Aug. 7. He did not address his contract status upon his return, but reportedly still desired a restructured deal with a raise.
Heyward’s contract status
Heyward signed a two-year, $29 million contract extension in 2024 through the 2026 season. He signed the deal coming of an injury-limited season in which he missed the Pro Bowl for the first time in seven seasons.
He responded in 2024 by playing in all 17 regular season games and earning his fourth career first-team All-Pro selection. He told reporters that when he signed his contract ahead of the 2024 season, he told the Steelers to expect to return to the negotiating table if he had another All-Pro campaign.
“But to be completely honest with you, when I signed that, I told them, ‘When I have an All-Pro year, expect me to come back,’ Heyward said. … “I think everybody kind of giggled a little bit. But in my head, I used it as motivation to go out there and prove it.”
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Heyward’s salary is considerably lower than his market value as a first-team All-Pro. Per Over the Cap, Chiefs defensive tackle Chris Jones is the NFL’s highest-paid interior defensive lineman with an average annual salary of $31.75 million per year. Fifteen interior lineman will make $20 million or more per season. Heyward, meanwhile, is making $14.5 million per season on his current deal.
On Tuesday, head coach Mike Tomlin told reporters that “I’m certainly expecting Cam to play” in Pittsburgh’s season opener. The Steelers are scheduled to play the Jets on the road at 1 p.m. ET Sunday.
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