Steelers’ Cameron Heyward hasn’t heard from NFL about alleged punch of Justin Herbert

Cameron Heyward has heard what some people have said about him this week on social media, and it hurts. But one entity he hasn’t heard from yet over the past few days is the NFL office. And that, Heyward hopes, means his wallet won’t also be hurt.

With 3½ days to reflect on what some saw as a punch Heyward delivered to the gut of Justin Herbert during Sunday night’s game in Los Angeles, Heyward on Thanksgiving morning further clarified that what looks like a punch on replay wasn’t at all his intention.

“I honestly didn’t even know what exactly happened,” Heyward said of the incident after a long Herbert run during the fourth quarter of the Los Angeles Chargers’ 41-37 win against Heyward’s Pittsburgh Steelers.

“Man, I never am going to try to be a dirty player, I never want anybody to think I am. I was already tired running down him in the first place. I was more ticked off when I got pulled up, because I was trying to catch my breath for a second. But in slow motion it looks way worse. I honestly was just trying to catch my fall, and that’s it.”

Steelers Cameron Heyward further explains the alleged punch of Justin Herbert, says he reached out to him and that it hurts being called a dirty player pic.twitter.com/o0ixKO6cRv

— Chris Adamski (@C_AdamskiTrib) November 25, 2021

The NFL reportedly was reviewing the incident for possible discipline against Heyward, but typically that comes by this point of the practice week.

“I’ll see,” Heyward said early Thursday morning.

Does he think the league will be in touch?

“Ummm, hopefully not, but you never know.”

Steelers’ Cameron Heyward Apologizes After Appearing To Punch Justin Herbert (VIDEO) https://t.co/zJ6fYRXcpf pic.twitter.com/PriiAjuGJl

— Busted Coverage (@bustedcoverage) November 22, 2021

The 32-year-old Heyward made the tackle 36 yards downfield; according to Next Gen Stats, he ran a total of 49.6 yards during the play, the second-most distance covered by a defensive lineman on a tackle in the NFL this season. Chargers receiver Joshua Palmer tried to lift Heyward off Herbert — which is technically illegal — and that visibly upset Heyward.

After the game Sunday, Heyward told reporters he was “sorry if I did anything to offend anybody. I wish I had said more to Justin after, but there was nothing behind it.”

Justin Herbert (36-yard run) has tucked it and ran six times tonight (career-high) for 93 yards (also a career-high), including 4 first downs.

#97 Cameron Heyward traveled 49.6 yards to make the tackle, the 2nd-most distance by a DT on a tackle this season.#PITvsLAC | #BoltUp pic.twitter.com/FAaLI6DuGq

— Next Gen Stats (@NextGenStats) November 22, 2021

Heyward said he reached out to Herbert over Instagram message this week.

“I have a lot of respect for him,” Heyward said, “and if I do get a chance to reach out in person some time, I will.”

Herbert downplayed the incident after the game, but Los Angeles coach Brandon Staley indicated he took a little more exception to it. The next day, however, Staley was complimentary of Heyward.

“If you know Cam Heyward and (Steelers coach) Mike Tomlin, you know that those guys are real competitors,” Staley said during his weekly news conference. “Those guys have been doing this at a high level for a long time.

“…Nothing but respect for Cam Heyward and Mike Tomlin and that group. We know what type of outfit that is over there. They do things the right way.”

NFL senior vice president of officiating Walt Anderson defended the lack of ejection for Heyward in a pool reporter.

“We looked at it here in New York (on video),” Anderson said, “and just did not feel that the action rose to the level of a disqualification and further action by us.”

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