Tag: Connor Heyward

Steelers 2024 offseason – Tight end

The Steelers have four quality tight ends on the roster.

The Pittsburgh Steelers went into 2023 with high hopes for the tight end position. But unfortunately, the problems with the offense spilled over to this group in all the worst ways. Hopefully, the addition of new offensive coordinator Arthur Smith will help get these guys back into the game plan. Here are all the tight ends currently on the roster.

Steelers DT Cam Heyward cuts little brother Connor no slack

Cam sees to it that Connor represents the Heyward family name well.

There are fewer heartwarming stories than that of Cam and Connor Heyward. When the Pittsburgh Steelers took Cam’s younger brother with their 208th overall pick of the 2022 NFL draft, it was such a Steelers thing to do.

And while offensive coordinator Matt Canada isn’t using Heyward to the offense’s full advantage, it’s still pretty cool that he’s donning the Black and Gold.

“It’s really special to be out there and watch my brother perform and make the most of his opportunities,” Heyward told former Steeler Ryan Clark on “Inside the NFL.”

“I’m the hardest on him on the team. I have to make sure that he represents the name well. He’s not just an extension of my dad, he’s an extension of me, so he can’t be going out there and embarrassing me anytime soon.”

Heyward’s usage through nine games (17 receptions, 137 yards) is greater than it was during his rookie season (12 receptions, 151 yards), but given Pat Freiermuth‘s time on injured reserve, it’s surprising he hasn’t been more involved. His most productive game of the season — 32 yards on three receptions — came just last week against the Green Bay Packers.

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5 things Pat Freiermuth’s injury means for the Pittsburgh Steelers

With Steelers tight end Pat Freiermuth Pat Freiermuth comes adjustments that’ll need to be made on the fly.

It was anticipated that the Pittsburgh Steelers would return from their Week 6 bye a fully healthy team (save Cam Heyward), but Pat Freiermuth‘s hamstring had other plans.

The team placed the veteran tight end on injured reserve Saturday. He’ll be sidelined for the next four games and could return for Pittsburgh’s critical road brawl with the Cleveland Browns in Week 11.

The news is huge for the offense, as Freiermuth was responsible for half of the team’s offensive scores.

Here are four things his injury could mean for the Pittsburgh Steelers going forward.

WATCH: Former Spartan Connor Heyward catches TD in NFL preseason game

Former Michigan State standout Connor Heyward found the endzone in a week two NFL preseason matchup on Saturday

Former Michigan State standout Connor Heyward found the endzone in a week two NFL preseason matchup on Saturday.

Heyward caught a three-yard touchdown pass for the Pittsburgh Steelers in a preseason game against the Buffalo Bills this weekend. He ended the game with two receptions for 12 yards and one touchdown.

Check out Heyward’s touchdown reception below:

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Former MSU football TE Connor Heyward highest rated TE by PFF in week one

Connor Heyward was PFF’s highest graded TE in the first week of the NFL’s preseason:

The NFL has concluded the first week of preseason football as teams prepare for the 2023-24 campaign. Now is the time for players to fight and earn roster spots and playing time for the upcoming season. It appears Connor Heyward is not going to have a problem there.

Heyward spent the 2022-23 season on the Pittsburgh Steelers active roster and looks to be heading that way again. After the first week of preseason games, where the Steelers took on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Heyward received a 93.7 PFF grade, ranking him the highest TE in the NFL for the week.

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WATCH: Connor Heyward gives rookie a huge hit

Connor Heyward laid out a rookie LB in a “Welcome to the league” moment:

Michigan State fans know Connor Heyward all too well, and especially know his physical nature on the playing field. Heyward played as both a running back and tight end during his time in East Lansing, and is now appearing to be carving himself a nice role in the NFL for the Pittsburgh Steelers.

In the Steelers first preseason game, Heyward provided a clip worthy moment, drilling Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker SirVocea Dennis, giving him a “Welcome to the league” moment.

You can watch the video here:

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An emotional Cameron Heyward was in tears discussing how his brother’s Steelers TD honored their late father

What a heartwarming moment for the Heyward family.

Pittsburgh Steelers veteran defensive lineman Cameron Heyward and rookie tight end Connor Heyward had a lot to be proud of during their team’s 19-16 win over the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday.

The Heyward brothers both made impact plays during the victory. Connor Heyward scored his first NFL touchdown on a pass from Steelers quarterback Kenny Pickett, and Cameron Heyward had a sack and two tackles.

The game was especially special for the Heywards because their late father, former NFL fullback Craig Heyward, played for the Falcons from 1994-96. The Heyward brothers also both played high school football at Peachtree Ridge in Suwanee, Georgia. It was a powerful homecoming for the duo.

After the game, Cameron Heyward wore his father’s Falcons jersey and talked about the impact of his younger brother’s touchdown.

Cameron Heyward and Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin also shared a cool moment after the game centered on Connor Heyward’s big TD.

While it’s easy to get caught up with the Xs and Os, the NFL is and has always been much bigger than the final box score.

Sunday was surely an incredibly powerful day for the Heyward family and another reminder of how the game can collide with its players in the most unexpected, human ways.

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Steelers’ Cameron Heyward celebrates his brother’s TD while wearing their father’s jersey

Steelers’ Cameron Heyward celebrates his brother’s TD against the Falcons while wearing their “Ironhead” father’s jersey:

Now this is cool. The late “Iron Head” Craig Heyward rose to prominence in the NFL with the New Orleans Saints (playing 68 games from 1988 to 1992, including the playoffs), but his children grew up in Georgia while he played for the Atlanta Falcons later in his career — and two of his sons played a part in taking down that same Falcons team on Sunday.

The younger son Connor scored his first career touchdown as a pro in the 19-16 win, scoring on a 17-yard reception. It was the same venue in which he caught a 15-yard touchdown pass to start Michigan State’s comeback win over the Pitt Panthers last season. The elder Heyward reflected on Sunday’s emotional moment after the game while wearing his father’s No. 34 Falcons jersey.

“This morning, me and him went to my dad’s grave and we got to share a moment there. So I was already pretty emotional when he got the touchdown. I don’t like to be Mr. Softy, but like, that really hit me. Luckily there wasn’t a camera on me, because I was a mess,” Heyward said during his postgame press conference. “I don’t like to be the soppy person, but it was one of those moments. Back home, this is where they had the Peach Bowl last year, and he got his touchdown here. I like to think God and my Dad are always working together.”

Moments like this are what make sports special. It would be nice to see Heyward wearing his dad’s Saints jersey instead of the dirty birds’ red and black, but it’s tough to hold that against him given the circumstances and how much this means to their family. It sure helps that this all follows a Falcons loss in the very-muddled NFC South.

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WATCH: Connor Heyward catches first NFL touchdown

Connor Heyward has scored his first career NFL touchdown!

Connor Heyward was a staple of the Michigan State offense over the past four seasons, playing both running back and tight end for the Spartans.

Following his Michigan State career, Heyward was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the sixth round of the 2022 NFL Draft.

In his rookie season with the Steelers, Heyward has been eased slowly into the offense but has gotten more involved as the season has gone on.

Now, in the Steelers week 13 matchup with the Atlanta Falcons, Heyward caught his first career touchdown on a 17 yard pass from Kenny Pickett.

Watch it here:

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WATCH: Connor Heyward rumbles ahead for 45-yard catch and run for Steelers

WATCH: Connor Heyward rumbles ahead for 45-yard catch and run for Steelers

The story of Connor Heyward thriving at the tight end position continues. After nearly leaving the Michigan State program after getting passed in the depth chart at running back, Connor Heyward made a switch to tight end, and it’s one that might have earned him a long future in the NFL after he was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers this spring.

On Sunday, Heyward had his first big highlight for the Steelers, when he caught a pass from Kenny Pickett that he was able to turn into a huge 45-yard gain.

Watch it below:

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