Steelers' Teryl Austin Is Planning On Having The "Cam [Heyward] That We're Used To Seeing" In 2024

The Pittsburgh Steelers will need the defense to be at its best in 2024 with the new Arthur Smith offense being rolled out. An integral part of the defense answering the call is the availability of veteran defensive lineman, Cameron Heyward. After Heyward spent most of Pittsburgh's 2024 Organized Team Activities (OTAs) holding out for a new contract extension, he is back to practicing with the team, despite still wanting an extension.

Heyward is coming off a forgettable 2023 season, during which he missed extensive time due to a serious groin injury in the Steelers' Week 1 loss to the San Francisco 49ers. The 35-year-old defender hasn't struggled with injuries during his long NFL career, but his age and the extension talk have fans concerned about what kind of impact Heyward will have in 2024. Defensive Coordinator Teryl Austin spoke to the media on Wednesday after the Steelers' second day of mandatory minicamp and is excited about getting Heyward back to playing the kind of football the veteran lineman is known for.

"I think, you know, it's hard to tell right now, but I'm anticipating him [Heyward] getting back to being the Cam Heyward that we know. He's big, he's strong, he's moving well. You can see it now, he's moving so much better than he was last year. And so I just --  I'm assuming that we're gonna get the Cam that we're used to seeing."

After back-to-back seasons where Heyward was putting up career-high numbers, the groin injury and subsequent missed time derailed the forward motion that had been building for the defensive lineman. In 2021, Heyward tallied 10 sacks, and then in 2022, he upped that total with 10.5 sacks; Heyward didn't miss a single game in either season. In fact, since the 2017 season, Heyward has consistently proven that his age has little to do with what he can produce on the field.

Unlike the secondary and linebackers, Pittsburgh has a more immediate need for Heyward to get back to his old self, and the sooner, the better. Outside of Keeanu Benton, the Steelers don't have too much reliable depth on the defensive line. DeMarvin Leal will be entering his third NFL season without much to show for it other than some healthy scratches and one career sack. While there are potential contributors waiting in the wings for their chance, like Breiden Fehoko, Montravius Adams, and rookie Logan Lee, the brunt will fall onto Heyward to carry.

With the desire for a new contract extension still looming as Pittsburgh nears 2024 training camp, Heyward knows how important his production is for the Steelers' 2024 campaign. A new quarterback, new offensive scheme and coordinator, no Dionate Johnson, and raised expectations all point to a defense that has to be ready right away. If the Steelers can rely on Heyward once again to lock down the middle of the defensive line for the entire season, then 2024 will be exactly what the 2023 Walter Payton Man of the Year winner would need to earn that extension.

Steelers' Offense Needs To Do Its Part

Pittsburgh limped through 2023 as injuries brutalized the defense, while a Matt Canada-led offense had historically bad results. With Kenny Pickett's second season proving as unspectacular as his rookie campaign, it fell to the defense to rescue the team from the brink of defeat time and time again. Defensive touchdowns, turnovers, and late-game heroics defined the 2023 season, but it often left the NFL's most expensive defense hung out to dry on a weekly basis. When that was combined with Heyward's injury and the other players missing time, Pittsburgh's defense had to excel just to earn a Wild Card berth.

For 2024 to be truly different, meaning getting the Steelers back to actually winning postseason games instead of just qualifying for them, the offense will need to carry at least some of the weight along the way. The Steelers are a uniquely lopsided franchise, with more money spent on defense than any other NFL team, but also the least spent on offense heading into the 2024 season. With that kind of gap, it's understandable for the defense to be the foundational reason for them being competitive, but even the best NFL defense needs a breather now and then. If Smith's new offense can give that to the Steelers' defense a few times a game, Pittsburgh could go from a surprising Wild Card team, to contending for championships again.

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