PITTSBURGH -- After missing the first two weeks of voluntary OTAs for the first time in his career as he negotiates a new contract, Pittsburgh Steelers defensive lineman Cameron Heyward attended Tuesday's practice.
His attendance, though, isn't indicative of the status of those negotiations. Instead, Heyward said, it was important to come back to be "best player and best leader I can [be]."
"There's been communication, but there's nothing to really report on right now," Heyward said of his contract. "I don't think a deal gets done tomorrow, I'll tell you that, but there's communication. We'll see where it takes us."
Heyward, 35, is entering the final year of a four-year, $65.6 million extension he signed in 2020. He's scheduled to count $22.4 million against the cap this season, making him one of only seven defensive linemen slated to make at least $20 million in 2024, according to ESPN Stats & Information.
Of that group, Heyward is the oldest by nearly three years. While it would be a surprise for Heyward to get another major payday at his age, Heyward isn't concerned about precedent.
"There's not a lot of history behind it, but for me, I look at it as I'm not looking to be like anybody else," Heyward said. "My game is different from everybody else in this league, I like to think. I can play the run and the pass, and that's where I'm different. ... But we'll see what happens. There's not a lot of history, but I'm here to make history, and I'm here to win another Super Bowl here and have a great season."
Heyward also said he plans to play for three more years. In 2023, Heyward was one of only five defensive linemen age 34 or older to play a game, according to ESPN Stats & Info.
"In my mind I got three years, and I want to maximize them," Heyward said. "I want to play at a high level, and I want to go deep in the playoffs. We got a good team, and I'm going to do my part to be ready for all those situations."
Asked about the importance of remaining a Steeler for his final years, Heyward said, "There's certain guys that are one-helmet guys, and I want to be one of those one-helmet guys. There's a hunger and desire there, but that doesn't mean just hanging it up and calling it a career.
"To me, I think I got more bullets to fire, and I'm excited to do that."
After missing six games due to in-season surgery to repair a serious groin injury, Heyward had an additional surgery on the opposite side of his groin to tighten up his core muscle - a procedure that became necessary when he overcompensated for the initial injury.
"It wasn't anything that lingers," Heyward said of the second surgery. "I'll say this, a groin is not like an ACL, it's not like anything's ever going to get affected again. I'm feeling good, able to do everything -- squatting heavy with power and speed. It feels good to get after it again."
While he's been away from OTAs, Heyward has been working out with former Steelers defensive lineman Tyson Alualu, watching film of OTAs and communicating with his teammates and coaches.
"It was difficult," Heyward said of missing the first two weeks. "But the thing I got very frustrated with was just when people questioned my communication with the team. I was communicating with guys left and right and front office, coaches, teammates. All I care about is how I am with my teammates. I don't want them to ever think I don't care about them or how I'm not in it.
"You can say whatever you want about me besides that, but I'll always dedicate anything I can to them, and I don't want that to ever be questioned."
Heyward, though, kept emotion out of his answer when he was asked to evaluate his level of confidence that a deal would get done.
"I'm going to try to remain pretty neutral," he said. "I don't want to be too [confident] either way. All I know is I want to be here, but we'll see what happens. If this is my last year here. I've had a great career here, but I look forward to playing next year."
Though he'll miss Thursday's practice for a Walter Payton Man of the Year event, Heyward said he plans to report for the team's mandatory minicamp June 11 and to Latrobe for training camp later this summer, but the 13-year veteran said he hasn't thought about how much he'll participate in training camp if a deal isn't reached.
"I have not even thought that far," Heyward said. "I'm taking it day-by-day."