During his first Tuesday game-week news conference of the season, coach Mike Tomlin referenced the Pittsburgh Steelers as “thankful” that their list of injuries is short on the precipice of the season opener.
The only player whose status is in question for Sunday’s game at the New York Jets, outside linebacker Nick Herbig, was regarded as a limited participant at Wednesday’s practice.
Herbig, who has a hamstring injury, was joined on the league-mandated status report by rookie defensive tackle Derrick Harmon and cornerback Cory Trice. Harmon will not play against the Jets because of a knee injury suffered in the preseason finale; Trice is on injured reserve and is therefore ineligible to play during any of the first four games of the season.
One name not on the status report is defensive captain Cameron Heyward. The 15th-year defensive lineman has made it known he desired a raise after making AP NFL All Pro last season, and he was sitting out team drills at practice late during camp as his method for expressing it.
Heyward was spotted Wednesday and photographed by media during stretches and individual drills that open practice. The remainder of practice is off-limits to photography, and media are prohibited from reporting its contents.
Because Heyward is not injured, the Steelers are not required by league rules to list a contract-related limited participation at practice on the status report — albeit, they commonly list players as “did not practice” for reasons of rest, typically using the term “not injury related.” Heyward was not listed in that way Wednesday.
Heyward was not present during the two periods the locker room at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex was open to reporters. He has not spoken to media since training camp ended at Saint Vincent College.
When position mate Keeanu Benton — who starts alongside Heyward in the Steelers’ defense — was asked if he expected Heyward to play Sunday, Benton said: “That’s a question for Cam, sir.”
Heyward on his own podcast released Monday was asked if he would be playing in New York. He responded, “We’ll see.”
