Overview

• Heyward remains in the Latrobe facility in street clothes, attending meetings and observing drills while skipping fully padded sessions.
• The seven-time Pro Bowler requested a contract renegotiation in February after a first-team All-Pro season with eight sacks, 71 tackles and 11 passes defended.
• The 36-year-old veteran said he would consider missing regular-season games to pressure the team into matching elite interior defenders’ market rates.
• Head coach Mike Tomlin and defensive coordinator Teryl Austin have downplayed any disruption, noting Heyward’s veteran presence and mentorship of younger linemen despite limited on-field reps.
• Pittsburgh’s cap room is constrained by recent deals for T.J. Watt, D.K. Metcalf and Jalen Ramsey, though the club could restructure bonuses to add more guarantees.