5:55pm: Heyward will indeed undergo surgery, Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports. The procedure will take place on Wednesday, and it is expected to keep him sidelined for up to eight weeks. For the second straight season, therefore, the Steelers will exit Week 1 with a foundational member of their defense unavailable for much of the campaign.
3:00pm: The Steelers’ defense will be shorthanded while attempting to rebound from their Week 1 loss. Defensive tackle Cameron Heyward suffered a groin injury during Sunday’s game and he is facing a multi-week absence as a result, Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reports. 
Garafolo adds that an IR stint is likely, and that surgery is an option being considered at this point. Players put on injured reserve are required to miss at least four weeks, and an absence of that length would deal a major blow to Pittsburgh’s defensive front.
Heyward exited the Steelers’ lopsided loss to the 49ers midway through the contest and a return was quickly ruled out. That signaled an injury of some significance could be revealed not long afterwards, and that has now proven to be the case. This will mark the first notable missed time for the three-time All-Pro since 2016, a testament to his durability during much of his 13-year Pittsburgh tenure.
A full-time starter since his third season with the team, Heyward has established himself as a stalwart on the Steelers’ defense. The 34-year-old has earned a Pro Bowl nod in each of the last six seasons, and he has posted double-digit sacks in three of those campaigns. His role in maintaining the team’s dominance in the sack department has been crucial while giving the Steelers an interior rush presence to compliment edge producers T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith.
With 163 stops and 29 tackles for loss across the 2021 and ’22 seasons, Heyward also proven to be an integral part of the team’s run defense through the latter stages of his career. His absence will be acutely felt moving forward, as was the case last season when Watt was sidelined by a pectoral tear. His return to the lineup helped spark a late-season playoff push for the Steelers, and Pittsburgh will hope a similar situation can play out in 2023 if Heyward does end up missing considerable time.
Along the defensive interior, the Steelers will move forward with Larry Ogunjobi – who re-signed on a three-year, $28.75MM deal this offseason – as a key starter. Aside from the former Brown and Bengal, though, the team is generally lacking in experience up front. Second-round rookie Keeanu Benton and 2022 third-rounder DeMarvin Leal are among the young players who are in line for an increased workload in Heyward’s absence.
Can’t believe they let him back out there he was stretching that groin and in clear discomfort
Yeah, I know it’s just one game but the hype hit the fan in this game. I was always a Tomlin supporter, but after 4 months of preparation, this is the best you can do?
You could have watched the first 5 minutes and turned it off
Poor preparation. An outrageously poor offensive coordinator and really, just a continuation of last year.
Now this
Their defense once again got pounded and arguably your best D-lineman will be out
Sheesh
Must be something about the teams in Pittsburgh and their need to provide propaganda. Whether it’s the prospects of the Pirates, the Steelers being a contender or Pickett being ready, it’s a dark period for sports in this town
Face it this is an MLS town now, go Hounds!!!
What did you expect to do vs one of the top three teams in the nfc
Not get rocked 30-7 at home. Is that what you expected?
I had a solid respect for the Niners, Ghost. Still do. Awful lot of talent. But given the amount of national hype and local euphoria centered around the exhibition season and a 7-2 run to close last season against so so teams, you’d have expected the Steelers to be competitive at home in the opener, that’s all
They weren’t. Again, you didn’t need to watch more than the first 5 minutes to see this as a mismatch. A well oiled team against and unprepared team that only revealed that they were the average group they were last year and not in the same class
Again, I’ve supported Tomlin. I liked the selection of Pickett. But I’m just wondering if what I’m seeing week in and week out is more reminiscent more of the Bubby Brister era than anything approaching the Big Ben period
Just one game. But feels very familiar
That 7-2 run was masked by playing awful teams. As soon as Pickett plays a team with any actual talent he gets obliterated and embarrassed.
How long till they sign Alualu?