PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – Cam Heyward isn’t coming back this week, but the defensive captain did confirm he will be back this season. He just doesn’t yet know when.
Heyward was placed on injured reserve on September 14 after suffering a groin injury in the first half of the season opener against San Francisco. Heyward hadn’t missed a game due to injury since 2016. That’s 53.5 sacks over that time from ’16 to now, 73 tackles for loss, six forced fumbles, 28 passes defended and 396 tackles.
He said he’s working as hard as he can to get back, but reiterated a couple of times, he doesn’t know when that is. As for what he’s seen on the field, he said it’s been a mixed bag.
“I think as a group we have to keep battling back,” Heyward said. “We have to be more sound in the run game. We get off the field and we control the line of scrimmage, it will look a lot better. It will allow our pass rushers to get out there.”
It’s not that he was unhappy with some of the guys trying to fill in for him. He said he’s proud of how Keeanu Benton has improved work with his hands and has more of a feel for the game and has settled down and is ready for the fight. He has really grown. How Larry Ogunjobi has taken a leadership role. DeMarvin Leal is playing more and said Montravius Adams has really come on. He said that group needs to continue to keep improving.
Heyward said he will do whatever is needed and remembers tearing his pec and missing nine games in ‘16. He said he uses this time to learn so he can be better when he returns. Until then he tries to be a bridge between coaches and players and tells each what he sees.
“It’s frustrating enough not being able to play, but it’s not like my guys aren’t trying,” Heyward said. “There are little things we have to clean up-hands, eyes, your keys, how we step to a block. All of these things can change the way we control the line of scrimmage.”
“Hopefully we’ve learned our lesson. The quickest way to get over this is to get a W on Sunday and to say it’s because of the defense.”
Kenny chat
Heyward is often in the locker room even while dealing with his injury. He said he’s had conversations with the guy next to him, starting quarterback Kenny Pickett.
“I’ve talked to him and just said ‘it’s a long season’,” Heyward said. “Don’t get too high or too low. Luckily when you are a quarterback, your number is always called. There is always room for improvement. There hasn’t been a game I played in where I did everything right. There is always something you can grow from.”
“You got to take these bumps and bruises now because you’ll be better because of it.”