PITTSBURGH — Steelers defensive tackle Cam Heyward returned to practice on Thursday for the first time since tearing a groin muscle in a season-opening loss to San Francisco.
Doctors cleared Heyward early Thursday following the latest in a series of MRIs. He went through the majority of the two-hour workout with his teammates, though the 13-year veteran cautioned it’s too soon to say when he’ll be ready to return to the lineup.
“That’s above my pay grade,” said Heyward, who is on injured reserve. “I’m sure someone’s got it planned out for me, but I hope to beat that (plan).”
Heyward was chasing San Francisco quarterback Brock Purdy in the first half of what became a 30-7 blowout at the hands of the 49ers when Purdy threw the ball away.
The 34-year-old Heyward went into an unintentional split that tore a muscle in his groin that required surgery.
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“I didn’t know what happened at first, but I couldn’t move like I wanted to,” Heyward said. “Tore the adductor. I was already dealing with a core muscle injury, so both played a part. It just happens in the game we play. Not running away from it. Excited to get back out there when I can, but it’s been a process.”
The Steelers (4-2) have held their own in Heyward’s absence with a handful of younger players such as rookie defensive tackle Keeanu Benton and second-year defensive end DeMarvin Leal taking on a larger workload next to veteran Larry Ogunjobi.
Watson defense his drive
BEREA, Ohio — Unable to play quarterback right now for the Browns, Deshaun Watson tried some defense on Thursday.
Watson, who will miss his fourth game — and third start — on Sunday at Seattle with a right shoulder injury that has lingered longer than expected, dismissed the idea that he’s not doing all he can to get back on the field.
Watson’s aware his motivation is being questioned, and he’s not happy about it.
“Why wouldn’t I want to play? I just worked my (butt) off for two years to get back to playing,” said Watson, who sat out 2021 after demanding a trade from Houston and was suspended 11 games by the NFL last year. “So why wouldn’t I want to play? This is what I’ve been doing since I was 6 years old.
“I see all the narratives. All that stuff is just trying to cause controversy and commotion. I’m fine. I’m happy. I’m not happy with the injury, but I’m in a great space mentally.
“I’m in a great space spiritually. Physically everything else is in a great space except my shoulder. So we’re working hard to get that back.”
Watson has “residual” swelling in his shoulder and can’t throw with velocity, so the Browns (4-2) will start P.J. Walker this week against the Seahawks. Walker hasn’t played well, but Cleveland has won two straight with him as its primary QB.
Jacobs’ declining production a trend
HENDERSON, Nev. — Because Las Vegas Raiders running back Josh Jacobs ended last season as the NFL’s rushing champion, it would be tempting to think his slowdown began this year after a contract holdout.
Jacobs’ slide, in fact, began last season, which raises the question of whether he will pull out of it. He has gone 12 consecutive games without rushing for at least 100 yards, last hitting triple digits on Dec. 4 against the Los Angeles Chargers.
His rushing average over the first 12 games last season was 5.4 yards per carry as Jacobs racked up 1,303 yards over that span. He then averaged 3.6 yards over the final five games, and that number this season is 2.9 through seven weeks. Jacobs has gained 347 yards entering Monday night’s game at the Detroit Lions.
There are multiple plausible explanations for the drop-off.
The Raiders have leaned heavily on Jacobs, who had a career-high 340 carries last season. Add in 53 catches and that’s nearly 400 touches. Jacobs had more than 200 carries in each of his first three seasons and more than 250 touches.
This season, Jacobs remains the bell cow with 118 carries and 26 catches.
Jacobs, who was not available to speak Thursday, said recently he’s happy to get the work, either running or receiving.
