CINCINNATI – Three years ago, the Pittsburgh Steelers roster officially was changed in regards to the position for Cameron Heyward. Previously listed as a defensive end, Heyward from 2018 on has been designated as a “DT” for defensive tackle.

Heyward, though, took yet another step inward Sunday.

Heyward started against the Cincinnati Bengals at nose tackle. Although the lines continue to blur between positions as the NFL increasingly shifts to more hybrid looks and subpackage players, it is believed to be the first time Heyward served as the Steelers’ No. 1 nose tackle.

“We decided to go with Cam Heyward at nose to solidify us a little bit more in the interior positions of our defense,” coach Mike Tomlin said.

The Steelers made a surprising decision to sit Isaiah Buggs, who most often had played the nose this year after the early-season injury to Tyson Alualu. The Steelers called up Daniel Archibong from the practice squad to buttress their defensive line depth, but it was Heyward who played on the inside when he was on the field and the Steelers deployed three defensive linemen.

“First time playing nose through a whole game, but felt confident in the gameplan,” Heyward said. “But we didn’t get it done.”

Henry Mondeaux was the third defensive lineman to earn the official “start” (determined by who was on the field for the first play), although when the Steelers went to subpackages such as their preferred nickel, Heyward stayed in the game as one of the two d-linemen with Chris Wormley.

The Steelers have been without veteran starters Stephon Tuitt and Alaulu, getting a combined two games from them (both from Alualu until he suffered an ankle injury). Also on injured reserve is second-year defensive lineman Carlos Davis, but at least rookie Isaiahh Loudermilk returned to the lineup after missing the previous game because of a groin injury.

New returners

With Ray-Ray McCloud on the NFL’s covid-19 list, the Steelers had to turn elsewhere for return duties. McCloud had taken 100 of the Steelers’ 109 punt or kickoff returns over the past two seasons before Sunday.

The kickoff man was running back Anthony McFarland Jr., the 2020 fourth-round pick who’d fallen out of favor this season and had been a healthy scratch the previous three games. Handling punts was cornerback Cameron Sutton, who has spent most of his Steelers career as an emergency returner. Sutton is a regular in punt- and kickoff return lines during training camp, but Tomlin has long been loathe to have a defensive player catching kicks.

Before Sunday, though, Sutton had returned just one punt (in 2018) in an regular-season game. Sutton fielded two of the Bengals’ three punts Sunday, gaining 3 yards.

McFarland averaged 24.3 yards on three kickoff returns, taking each one between 24-25 yards.

McCloud potentially could return for next week’s game against the Baltimore Ravens.

Miller time

Wide receiver Anthony Miller and offensive lineman John Leglue made their Steelers’ in-uniform regular-season debuts. A four-year NFL veteran, Miller joined Archibong as call-ups from the practice squad to the active roster to face the Bengals. Additionally, Leglue was added to the 53-man roster.

Leglue served as a backup and did not play on offense. Miller didn’t make an appearance on offense until the second half, and he finished with one catch for 2 yards.

No Haden

The Steelers announced Saturday that veteran cornerback Joe Haden would miss a second consecutive game because of a foot injury. That left James Pierre to again serve as an every-down outside cornerback against Cincinnati.

No. 3 quarterback Dwayne Haskins and rookie linebacker Buddy Johnson joined Buggs as healthy scratches against the Bengals.

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