The majority of NFL players gain from bulletin board content. Cameron Heyward, a defensive lineman for the Pittsburgh Steelers, is developing for the 2024 campaign.
But on February 23, Heyward did more than just look for inspiration. After an injury-plagued 2023 season, he sent a strong message to the fans who doubted his ability to play at his Pro Bowl level.
Heyward posted on X (previously Twitter) saying, “Funny how you get hurt and kill yourself just to get back to play and not be 100 percent.” They now want you to retire since I’ve been injured all year.
At least I know where y’all stand. Y’all quick to forget when I am healthy….
“But I look forward to reminding y’all.”
Heyward was referring to the groin injury he suffered during the 2023 season. The muscle bothered him from the very beginning of training camp, and then he tore it off the bone in Week 1.
The 13-year veteran underwent surgery faced a 12-week recovery. But instead, he returned in seven and a half weeks.
Heyward made a significant impact on Pittsburgh’s run defense upon coming back. However, he didn’t have the same pass rushing numbers as he has throughout his career. Heyward finished with 2 sacks and 3 quarterback hits in 11 games during 2023.
Heyward first started clapping back at his doubters after The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s Gerry Dulac suggested in a fan chat on January 3 that the defensive lineman would have to take a significant pay cut for the 2024 season.
This fall, Heyward will be entering the final year of his contract which will pay him $16 million. He will also count as a $22.4 million cap hit.
Heyward took significant exception to Dulac’s remark. Also after initially declining to discuss his status for next season, Heyward declared in the middle of January that he is not ready to stop playing.
“I hate to be blunt about it, but I’m not retiring,” Heyward told his co-host Hayden Walsh on the Not Just Football podcast episode on January 18. “I would like to get my body healthy. Dude, I just played an entire season on one freaking leg where I could barely run right after the season.
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