The New York Jets‘ best chance of winning Sunday was for the Pittsburgh Steelers to be without defensive tackle Cam Heyward.
That task got one step harder Saturday night as the Steelers agreed to a new deal with their All-Pro defensive tackle.
According to ESPN’s Brooke Pryor, the Steelers got the deal finalized in enough time for Heyward to suit up at MetLife Stadium after receiving an extra $3 million in incentives.
“The deal allows Heyward, 36, to earn up to $18 million in 2025, an increase from the $14.75 million he was initially due in the two-year contract extension he signed a year ago,” wrote Pryor.
Aaron Glenn has said on the record many times that he wants to be able to run the football. While he hasn’t specified if Breece Hall would be the feature back or if he would operate by committee, the Jets are going to have a run-first offense this season. Even new quarterback Justin Fields will be looking to run.
“”We have like three good running backs, and I keep saying that,” Glenn told Kevin Patra of NFL.com. “Listen, they all have different skill sets that we’re going to utilize.”
Running the football is much harder to do when Heyward is playing on the defensive line. The Steelers conceded an average of 98 yards per game last year against the run, and the newly-paid defensive lineman was a large reason why as he earned his fourth First-Team All-Pro award.
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