PITTSBURGH —Despite hinting that he could sit out due to a contract dispute, Pittsburgh Steelers outside linebacker Alex Highsmith fully expects All-Pro defensive tackle Cam Heyward to play on Sunday in the season opener against the New York Jets .
"He's our leader so I'm confident he's gonna play. He's an All-Pro guy for us," Highsmith said on Thursday,
Heyward has been practicing for the past two weeks after holding in for most of training camp amidst a contract dispute. However, that doesn't mean he is willing to suit up for the team's Week 1 matchup.
Heyward was recently asked if he is planning to play against the Jets, and his answer put his status in serious doubt.
"We'll see," he said on the latest episode of "Not Just Football with Cam Heyward."
Despite this claim, Heyward practiced on Wednesday.
"I don't think so because he's been out there still practicing with us as well, still getting reps," Highsmith said when asked if Heyward's contract dispute has been a distraction at all.
Defensive coordinator Teryl Austin also expects Heyward to play on Sunday.
"Absolutely. He's been practicing. … I'm anticipating him playing," Austin said.
Steelers defensive tackle Cam Heyward during a training camp practice on Aug. 3, 2025. — Ed Thompson / Steelers Now
The 36-year-old showed no signs of slowing down last season while racking up 71 tackles, eight sacks and 11 passes defensed.
"I'm looking for my contract to be addressed," Heyward said on Aug. 11. "Honestly, I'm looking to be valued. … I know what I bring to this team, what I'm capable of on and off the field. It's hard for me, after the year I had, to really justify playing at the number I'm playing at."
Heyward hinted the two sides are still nowhere close to resolving the situation.
"Nope," he said. "Nothing to talk about."
Heyward already said he's willing to miss games in the 2025 season, if that's what it takes to get the contract modification he's seeking from the team. So it's soon time to find out if he will stay true to his word and continue standing his ground into the regular season. Kansas City Chiefs All-Pro defensive tackle Chris Jones sat out Week 1 in 2023 due to a contract dispute, but he returned to the team four days later after agreeing to a new one-year contract.
Heyward, a four-time first-team All-Pro and seven-time Pro Bowler, signed a two-year, $29 million contract extension with Pittsburgh last year that paid him a $14.7 million signing bonus, but guaranteed only that and his 2024 salary, which was $1.3 million.
Heyward was paid a $13.45 million roster bonus this March, but is owed only another $1.3 million this season for a total of $14.75 million in cash over 2025. He is also scheduled to earn a $12.95 million roster bonus in 2026, with a $1.3 million base salary.
Alan Saunders contributed reporting from Pittsburgh.
This article originally appeared on Steelers Now : Steelers Fully Expect Cam Heyward to Play vs. Jets
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