Cam Heyward Likely Fully Recovered by Training Camp

ORLANDO, Fla. — Earlier this offseason, Steelers defensive lineman Cam Heyward underwent surgery to help alleviate a lingering issue with his groin and core muscle surgery from in-season. Last month, NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reported that the procedure was a clean-up procedure that he needed.

Looks like Steelers DL Cam Heyward underwent an offseason surgery pic.twitter.com/KZIM989YiN

— Nick Farabaugh (@FarabaughFB) February 19, 2024

Asked on Monday if the injury would linger into the training programs this offseason, Mike Tomlin does not believe that Heyward will be affected for training or any significant length of time.

“I’m not anticipating it to be a factor by the time we get to training camp,” Tomlin said.

Throughout the season, the groin injury plagued him, even after returning. Heyward has discussed the injury he suffered at the 49ers at length. First, he stated that he had micro tears dating back to training camp, and they tried to rest it. But when he played against the 49ers, he tore the muscle off the bone, requiring surgery. At some point, while trying to compensate for it, he injured his other groin, too. Heyward should have missed 12 weeks after his surgery, but powered back far quicker than that.

Heyward said that in addition to surgery during the season and the new groin injury, he had a knee issue that kept him from practicing fully throughout almost the entire season after his return.

“I had my groin, then overcompensating with my other groin,” he said. “There was stuff on top of that, like my knee. It was a grind just to get ready for each game. It wasn’t by choice that I didn’t want to practice. It was ‘get me to the game.’ I don’t like that doing that. I don’t like playing football that way. I don’t ever want to cheat the game. I don’t ever want to think I’m not going to be 100%. But that was the cards I was dealt this year. It was a lot.”

Heyward won the NFL’s Walter Payton Man of the Year Award in Las Vegas. He joined Franco Harris (1976), Joe Greene (1979), Lynn Swann (1981) and Jerome Bettis (2001) as the only Steelers players to receive the prestigious honor. The honor is bestowed annually to a player who not only excels on the field, but also with their service in their community.

Alan Saunders contributed reporting from Orlando.