No mere ‘Meatball’ – Connor Heyward expected to take on bigger role in Steelers offense
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Connor Heyward is one of two literal little brothers among the Pittsburgh Steelers, so perhaps it’s no surprise he also is filling a “kid brother” role in his position room.
As such, Heyward’s brush with rookie hazing came in the form of a not-entirely flattering nickname bestowed upon him by the tight end corps’ eldest member.
“Everyone around here,” Zach Gentry said this week, “is calling him ‘Meatball’ now.”
An explanation, of course, was forthcoming.
“I looked at him one day in the meeting room, and he was disheveled. His hair was all over the place and rounded off after the shower, and he just looked like a little meatball. He’s built like a little meatball. Thus, ‘Meatball’ was born.”
No truth to the rumor that Acrisure Stadium public address announcer Larry Richert will introduce him as “Meatball Heyward” on Sunday before the Steelers’ home game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. But Heyward does figure to play a more prominent role in the offense than he has since being a sixth-round pick out of Michigan State in April.
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With No. 1 tight end Pat Freiermuth out because of a concussion, Gentry and Heyward are the lone tight ends on the active roster. It’s possible Rodney Williams gets called up from the practice squad, but for a team that’s increasingly used personnel groupings with two tight ends on the field, Heyward is the next man up at tight end.
“Connor is going to get a lot of reps, obviously, with Pat being out,” running back Najee Harris said Friday. “(During training camp and the preseason) he showed a lot of big-time plays. I remember one time he made a one-handed catch that raised a lot of eyebrows.
“He’s gonna get a good opportunity (Sunday).”
Heyward popped during practices at Saint Vincent over the summer. He noticeably developed a rapport with fellow rookie Kenny Pickett, who last week took over as the Steelers’ starting quarterback.
That played out almost immediately when given a chance during the regular season. After Freiermuth left last week’s loss at the Buffalo Bills, Heyward had two receptions among only 10 snaps played.
“I thought Connor jumped in and made a couple plays Sunday that showed his readiness,” offensive coordinator Matt Canada said. “Connor’s skillset, his role is little different. His body is different than those other two (tight ends), but he was able to step in and make a couple plays and was ready to go for a guy where you’d expect him to be.”
A converted college running back, the 6-foot, 230-pound Heyward had six receptions during the preseason, including a 2-point conversion on a play for which Pickett openly lobbied to run and have Heyward in the game.
Connor Heyward and Kenny Pickett have a long running good relationship; Pickett lobbied to get Heyward on the field for the 2pt conversion play in Saturday’s game pic.twitter.com/WBqVgwRJNp
— Chris Adamski (@C_AdamskiTrib) August 15, 2022
Pickett and Heyward had known each other from college when Heyward was considering a transfer to Pitt, the school where Heyward’s father, Craig, starred as a running back more than three decades ago.
(Incidentally, “Meatball” pales in comparison to dad’s nickname: “Ironhead”).
“(Pickett) trusts me,” Heyward said, “and that led over to minicamp and fall camp and, hopefully, that leads to the games. Even the preseason it bled over to, but meaningful games, hopefully, it does, too.”
Eleven years ago, Connor’s brother, Cameron, was a first-round pick of the Steelers. But Cameron Heyward was a spare part as a rookie on a team with a veteran and stellar defensive line. Little brother was taken five rounds later, but he might be given more of an opportunity to shine as a Steelers rookie.
“He’s finding comfort in what he’s doing, just continuing to keep learning, asking the right questions,” Cameron Heyward said. “I know there are mistakes. Sometimes he’s quick to point them out to me. Even tough times like that, he’s understanding where he needs to be better. I’m excited for him. We’ll see what happens. This is his moment. You’ve got to be ready for it.”
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