Heyward: Sitting out games among options amid contract dispute

Defensive tackle Cameron Heyward isn't ruling out the possibility of sitting out games amid a standoff with the Pittsburgh Steelers in his pursuit of a renegotiated contract.

"I think there are definitely options out there that could reflect that," Heyward told reporters Monday, according to The Athletic's Michael DeFabo.

Heyward signed a two-year, $29-million extension with Pittsburgh last offseason. However, he said Monday that he warned the front office at the time that he'd return to the negotiation table if he earned All-Pro honors after the team asked him to take a pay cut.

The 36-year-old delivered on that promise, posting 71 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, and eight sacks to secure a first-team All-Pro nod. He reportedly hasn't fully participated in practices this summer.

"When I look at the market, and I look at what I've done, it's hard to really wrap my head around playing at a number where I'm not even half of what the rest of the market is," Heyward said.

The veteran defender is set to make close to $14.75 million in 2025, ranking as the league's 22nd-highest-paid defensive tackle by average annual salary, according to Over the Cap.

Heyward said Monday that he initially requested a new contract from the Steelers in February, per the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review's Chris Adamski.

He also noted that he doesn't have any guaranteed salary beyond the 2025 season, adding that he'd be open to converting a portion of his 2026 bonuses into guaranteed money.

"Being respectful to the process of what both sides are trying to accomplish, I would definitely say that's something similar I'm thinking about," Heyward said, per DeFabo.

Pittsburgh rewarded T.J. Watt with a contract extension and also brought in high-profile additions D.K. Metcalf and Jalen Ramsey this offseason. Heyward has spent 14 seasons with the Steelers since being drafted 31st overall in 2011.