Cam Heyward Has Ominous Two-Word Answer On Week 1 Status

All-Pro defensive tackle Cam Heyward remains stuck in a contract dispute with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Head coach Mike Tomlin said on Tuesday that he expects the Heyward to suit up in Week 1 against the New York Jets, but the 36-year-old said that he isn’t so sure.

“I’m certainly expecting Cam to play,” Tomlin said, per ESPN’s Brooke Pryor. “Cam doesn’t play a lot in team development over the last several years. My job is to get him in and out of Latrobe, and I’ve done my job. And so, there are no reservations about his participation or his readiness. I’m sure he’s champing at the bit.”

Heyward discussed his Week 1 status on Tuesday’s episode of his “Not Just Football” podcast.

“We’ll see,” the seven-time Pro Bowler said, when asked if he’d be playing on Sunday.

Heyward was also asked if there were any updates on his contract situation, to which he replied “Nope, nothing to talk about.”

Tomlin said on Tuesday that the team would be without first-round rookie defensive tackle Derrick Harmon (MCL sprain) in Week 1, while linebacker Nick Herbig is questionable with a hamstring injury.

Heyward returned to Steelers practice on Aug. 19 for the first time since beginning a training camp hold-in on Aug. 7.

He inked a two-year, $29 million extension with Pittsburgh last September, putting him under contract through the 2026 campaign.

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