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The Pittsburgh Steelers will be without safety Minkah Fitzpatrick when they face the Tennessee Titans in Week 9 on November 2. But the Steelers will be getting back a different All Pro defender.
The Steelers activated veteran defensive tackle Cameron Heyward from injured reserve on November 1. He will play against the Titans for the first time since Week 1.
“It felt good. It’s been some weeks,” Heyward said, according to Steelers.com’s Teresa Varley. “It’s been a while. I am excited to just get back out there, get in the flow of things.”
Heyward missed the past six games because of a groin injury. But the Steelers designated him to return to practice on October 26. That gave the team a 21-day window to activate him.
Heyward practiced fully on October 31 and November 1. He will play in his first game in Week 9 since September 10.
Cameron Heyward Set to Return in Week 9
It’s no secret, but the Steelers have missed Heyward. In the 34-year-old, the Steelers are getting back a 3-time first-team All-Pro and 6-time Pro Bowler.
Each of the past two seasons, Heyward has reached double digits in sacks. In 2022, he had 10.5 sacks with 74 combine tackles, 14 tackles for loss and 23 quarterback hits. He also had 4 pass defenses, a force fumble and a fumble recovery.
Without Heyward (he played roughly one quarter in Week 1) for nearly the entire season, the Steelers have recorded 22 sacks, which is ranked 11th in the NFL. T.J. Watt leads the team with 8.5 sacks.
However, no other Steelers defender has more than 2.5 sacks this season. Heyward has the talent to reach that total in one or two games, and his return could help edge rusher Alex Highsmith see more opportunities to get to the quarterback.
With Heyward back, 23-year-old DeMarvin Leal will likely return to a reserve role. Leal has posted 13 combined tackles, 2 tackles for loss, 1 sack and 1 pass defense this season.
Kenny Pickett Will Also Play Against Titans
The Steelers received other good injury news on November 1. Quarterback Kenny Pickett fully participated in practice and has no injury designation for the matchup against the Titans.
“Steelers QB Kenny Pickett (ribs) was a full participant today and has no game status,” Rapoport tweeted. “He’ll play on TNF.”
#Steelers QB Kenny Pickett (ribs) was a full participant today and has no game status. He’ll play on TNF.
Safety Damontae Kazee and Anthony McFarland fully practiced on October 31 and November 1 as well. Both could play in Week 9 although the Steelers would have to activate McFarland off injured reserve and create a roster spot for him.
Fitzpatrick and cornerback Levi Wallace are the only other players on Pittsburgh’s injury report entering Week 9. Wallace was limited at practice and is considered questionable.
Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin ruled out Fitzpatrick playing against the Titans on October 30.
Regardless of whether Wallace plays, though, rookie cornerback Joey Porter Jr. will start. Porter started the first game of his career against the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 8. Tomlin told reporters on October 30 the rookie cornerback had done enough to keep the starting job.
Losing Fitzpatrick, who is dealing with a hamstring injury, is significant. But with Heyward back in the lineup, the Steelers have a better chance of generating more pressure to help the secondary.
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Steelers Make Final Call on Cameron Heyward for Week 9