Steelers Gameday Steelers Injury Updates
Steelers DT Cam Heyward Leaves Game with Injury
BALTIMORE — Pittsburgh Steelers All-Pro defensive tackle Cam Heyward suffered an injury late in the second quarter of Saturday night’s Wild Card game against the Baltimore Ravens.
The injury occurred on Lamar Jackson’s 5-yard touchdown pass to Justice Hill to extend the Ravens’ lead to 21-0 with two seconds remaining in the first half.
Heyward was slow to get up after the touchdown pass. He then headed into the locker room before the half came to a conclusion. Steelers spokesperson Burt Lauten revealed after halftime that Heyward was evaluated for a possible head injury but has been cleared to return.
Heyward has been on a tear this season. Along with leading all DTs with 71 tackles, Heyward has eight sacks, 12 tackles for loss and 11 pass defended. The last player who recorded 8+ sacks, 10+ TFL and 8+ pass defenses through their first 13 games of a season was J.J. Watt in 2014.
J.J. Watt was named NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 2014, which is why it’s pretty head-scratching that Heyward is not being considered for DPOY.
It’s the fourth time that Heyward’s been named first-team All-Pro by the AP, first since 2021. He also was named to the Pro Bowl last week for the seventh time in his career.
Hyeward has recorded 88.5 career sacks, which is second on the franchise’s all-time list. Having that many sacks as a defensive tackle speaks volumes. Only T.J. Watt has more sacks than him in Steelers history.
Heyward also was named the Walter Payton Man of the Year in 2023. With earning another first-team All-Pro accolade, Heyward could have solidified his case for the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Aaron Becker provided reporting from Baltimore.
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