Two days before their season opens, the Pittsburgh Steelers still have no assurance that their longtime defensive captain will choose to play in it.

Saying “wish I could be more optimistic,” defensive tackle Cameron Heyward declined to commit to being in uniform and participating when the Steelers kick off their season 1 p.m. Sunday at the New York Jets.

“You know, I am preparing (to),” Heyward said after Friday’s practice when asked if he was going to play Sunday. “Still got some time. But we will see.”

— Chris Adamski (@C_AdamskiTrib) September 5, 2025

Heyward practiced this week in advance of the first regular-season game, effectively ending his “hold-in” that lingered through the latter portions of training camp. Heyward did not play in any preseason games and was not at Thursday’s practice, but each of those is not unexpected for a 36-year-old, as coach Mike Tomlin typically gives his oldest veterans days off from practice and shields them from preseason games.

Heyward went public with his “hold-in” 3 1/2 weeks ago, expressing unhappiness with a contract that is to pay him roughly $15 million this season, $13.45 million of which already had been paid to him in the form of a roster bonus in March.

While acknowledging the Steelers’ longstanding policy of not negotiating during the season, Heyward declined to say if his situation was as simple as he will play if the Steelers give him a raise and he will sit out if they do not.

“I wish I had a straight answer for you right now,” Heyward said from inside the locker room at UPMC Rooney Sports Complex. “All I can tell you is I’ve had to have a lot of tough conversations with my family, and I am bracing for everything.”

Before addressing the media at large for the first time in weeks, Heyward laughed and joked with several teammates. He said he has discussed his situation with teammates, addressed his position and been open for any other player to approach him about it.

Heyward was named an All-Pro last season, before which he signed a contract that ran through 2026 and was worth $45 million overall. It added $29 million in new money to a deal was to expire after 2024. He said Friday he was not given an opportunity to insert formal incentive clauses into that re-done contract last year.

Heyward acknowledged Friday that the Steelers rarely give incentives in contracts for players other than quarterbacks.

“There’s different ways to handle the situation,” Heyward said. “I’m all for proving it (via achieving incentives). I’m not running away from it. My career has always been about proving it. And if it was that route, I’d go for it. But we’ve got time. We’ll see what happens.”

Though he cashed the roster bonus money this past spring, Heyward on Friday again lamented there are no future guarantees in his current deal.

The Steelers have a longstanding policy of not renegotiating or extending existing contracts until one year remains on them, a policy they alter in the case of quarterbacks.

The 2023 Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year award winner, Heyward said he and his representation have been in discussions with Steelers brass but would not elaborate on any details.

Assuming he appears in a game in 2025, Heyward would tie Mike Webster for the second-most seasons of service in Steelers franchise history. Only former teammate Ben Roethlisberger (18 seasons) has played more.

Before considering a question about if his relationship with the only organization he’s ever known has been strained, Heyward admitted he feels frustration with the situation.

“I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t,” he said. “I thought this could be a lot easier (to resolve), but it’s dragged on. Luckily, it hasn’t affected my teammates. But it’s part of the game.”

While his teammates generally have declined comment this week when asked if they expected Heyward to play against the Jets — Heyward was named captain Monday, after balloting by the players — Tomlin and defensive coordinator Teryl Austin said they expected Heyward to play.

The Steelers defensive line is without first-round pick Derrick Harmon and will face what’s expected to be one of NFL’s most run-heavy offenses.

Heyward said he has prepared enough so that he is ready to play.

“I’ve studied enough film,” he said. “I’m always prepared for every outcome.”

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