The Pittsburgh Steelers have had a to-do list this offseason, and one of the aspects of that list which seemed obvious was taking care of one of their own. That player would be defensive captain Cam Heyward, who is entering the final year of his current contract, and whether or not the team will give Heyward a new deal before the start of the season.

I’m sure fans everywhere know about the team’s policy of not negotiating contracts during the season, which means the clock is ticking for a potential Heyward extension before the team travels to Atlanta in Week 1.

What is the hold up for the Steelers signing Heyward to a new deal? It isn’t just the fact Heyward is an aging veteran, but more so the fact he spent the 2023 season battling injury from training camp and throughout the entire regular season. After two surgeries, Heyward spoke about his injury last year and how he is healthy heading into 2024.

“I was dealing with that all camp,” said Heyward. “Then it just went during the first game.

“I’m feeling really good right now. Just been getting a lot of physical therapy, a lot of massages. A lot of things outside of the football field just to be ready.”

Again, this boils down to Heyward not just proving his worth, but proving last year wasn’t the new normal. Instead, just a blip on the proverbial radar.

“I needed to prove to everybody that I was healthy, especially with last year,” said Heyward. “I still want to win. As much as I want things to go right for me, I want things right for the Steelers. I want to be a contributor in this and not a distraction.”

Heyward and T.J. Watt didn’t participate in any of the Steelers’ three preseason games, and he doesn’t see that as a detriment to his progress. After his time in the league he knows what he needs to do to get ready for the upcoming season from a physical and mental standpoint.

“I can’t remember the last preseason I’ve been in,” said Heyward. “I want to play, but through this process, I’ve learned what I do need and what I don’t need. If I don’t get the reps on the field, I can still get them mentally. That’s what I was doing last year, just trying to stay locked in. It’s less about getting the physical reps at this point.

“I’ll be ready for the season.”

As for a potentially slow preseason, Heyward knows the song and dance. You don’t win a Super Bowl in September, but you have to be aware of the process.

“I feel the same every year about this team,” said Heyward. “It’s Week 1. It’s the process you gotta go through. Nobody’s crowned in September and everybody’s fighting for the same spot.

“The goal is to make the playoffs. Win playoff games. And win the Super Bowl. It’s got to go in that order. You can’t rush this process. But we’ve got a lot of great guys that can build on that. I’m just excited to see this journey.”

Having a healthy, and effective, Heyward will be a huge component of the Steelers’ defensive success. While some younger players are ready to step into the lineup and be quality depth, Heyward’s abilities and smarts are invaluable to the Steelers success in the upcoming regular season.

If Heyward wants a new contract, it might not come until after the season. In which case if he has another injury-plagued season like he did last year, the contract he wants might not come. However, stay healthy and show you still have “it”, and there is a strong chance he’ll finish his career in the black-and-gold, if he still wants to play.

Be sure to stay tuned to SCN for the latest news and notes surrounding the Steelers as they prepare for the Atlanta Falcons in Week 1 of the regular season.