Steelers veteran DT Cam Heyward returns to practice after groin surgery, return to play uncertain
PITTSBURGH 无毛视频� Pittsburgh Steelers defensive tackle Cam Heyward returned to practice on Thursday for the first time since tearing a groin muscle in a season-opening loss to San Francisco.
Doctors cleared Heyward early Thursday following the latest in a series of MRIs. He went through the majority of the two-hour workout with his teammates, though the 13-year veteran cautioned it无毛视频檚 too soon to say when he无毛视频檒l be ready to return to the lineup.
无毛视频淭hat无毛视频檚 above my pay grade,无毛视频� said Heyward, who is on injured reserve. 无毛视频淚无毛视频檓 sure someone无毛视频檚 got it planned out for me, but I hope to beat that (plan).无毛视频�
Heyward was chasing San Francisco quarterback Brock Purdy in the first half of what became a 30-7 blowout at the hands of the 49ers when Purdy threw the ball away.
The 34-year-old Heyward went into an unintentional split that tore a muscle in his groin that required surgery.
无毛视频淚 didn无毛视频檛 know what happened at first, but I couldn无毛视频檛 move like I wanted to,无毛视频� Heyward said. 无毛视频淭ore the adductor. I was already dealing with a core muscle injury, so both played a part. It just happens in the game we play. Not running away from it. Excited to get back out there when I can, but it无毛视频檚 been a process.无毛视频�
The Steelers (4-2) have held their own in Heyward无毛视频檚 absence with a handful of younger players such as rookie defensive tackle Keeanu Benton and second-year defensive end DeMarvin Leal taking on a larger workload next to veteran Larry Ogunjobi.
While the numbers aren无毛视频檛 particularly pretty on the page 无毛视频� Pittsburgh is 31st in total defense heading into a visit by Jacksonville (5-2) on Sunday 无毛视频� the group has found a way to keep opponents in check late. Three of the Steelers无毛视频� four victories have come in games in which they trailed in the second half.
无毛视频淚s it perfect? No,'无毛视频� Heyward said. 无毛视频淏ut guys are competing. It无毛视频檚 just about staying in our gaps, getting off blocks, using our hands. I feel like guys are progressing every week.无毛视频�
The Steelers have 21 days to activate Heyward off injured reserve. Given the team无毛视频檚 compressed time schedule 无毛视频� they host Tennessee next Thursday, meaning there will be no padded practices early in the week 无毛视频� it seems likely Heyward will have to wait at least until Green Bay comes to Acrisure Stadium on Nov. 12 to have his familiar No. 97 run out of the tunnel and onto the field.
While hardly ideal, it beats the alternative for a six-time Pro Bowler and three-time All-Pro who has been durable well into his 30s. Before going down against the 49ers, Heyward hadn无毛视频檛 missed a game since tearing a pectoral muscle in 2016.
The past few weeks haven无毛视频檛 particularly been fun for the married father of three. When Heyward texted his wife Allie that he无毛视频檇 been cleared to practice, she texted back that it must mean his almost maniacal at-home rehab 无毛视频� he was using a laser to help speed up the healing process 无毛视频� was paying off.
无毛视频淚无毛视频檝e just been doing around-the-clock treatment, trying to take care of my body,无毛视频� Heyward said. 无毛视频淚t无毛视频檚 probably gotten annoying to an extent. You know, everybody无毛视频檚 trying to walk on eggshells around me, but I无毛视频檓 pretty sure my kids are really jumping all over me when I get home.无毛视频�
NOTES: Ogunjobi (shoulder) and WR Diontae Johnson (hamstring) did not practice Thursday. 无毛视频� CB Levi Wallace (foot) and CB Joey Porter Jr. (calf) were limited.