Rookie Connor Heyward earned prominent role in Steelers offense that could expand in ’23
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The first month of Connor Heyward’s rookie season went as it often does for sixth-round draft picks: He was an afterthought in the Pittsburgh Steelers’ offense.
The final Steelers’ possession of Heyward’s rookie season, though, illustrated just how far he had come.
A leaping, spinning, high-pointed catch over the middle between three defenders on a third-and-8 play highlighted a drive in which Heyward’s catches accounted for 45 yards as the Steelers scored their final touchdown of the 2022 season Jan. 8.
Connor Heyward‼️@Budlight | #BudLightCelly pic.twitter.com/zud7jIFzJE
— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) January 8, 2023
It was just an 11-snap stretch that day against the Cleveland Browns, one during which Heyward likely would not have had such prominent opportunities if not for an injury suffered by No. 1 tight end Pat Freiermuth. But it was a fitting end to Heyward’s season, one that could portend a breakout sophomore campaign for a player who doesn’t “look like” a tight end.
“That’s why we call him ‘Meatball,’ ” big brother Cameron Heyward said during an episode of his podcast last month.
At 6-foot, 230 pounds, Connor Heyward is 5 and 8 inches shorter, respectively, and roughly 30 pounds lighter than the Steelers’ other two tight ends this past season (Freiermuth and Zach Gentry). That helped spawn Heyward’s good-natured nicknames in the Steelers’ locker room.
“Meatball Heyward, Shrimp Heyward, Cocktail Heyward…” said Cameron, the Steelers’ elder statesman and longtime co-captain. “But you love the way that kid just came along.”
A converted running back and fullback late during his college career, Heyward showed remarkable ball skills as an undersized tight end late in the Steelers’ season. The aforementioned catch against Cleveland went for 27 yards, accounting for the third-longest play of that game for the Steelers. Heyward’s four touches in that Week 18 game were more than any other Steelers tight end or wide receiver in that game.
Heyward also had a 45-yard catch during an October game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Only one Steelers reception all season by any player was longer. Two of Heyward’s 12 catches this season went for at least 27 yards. Only George Pickens (nine), Diontae Johnson (three) and Freiermuth (three) had more catches that long.
Need more proof of Heyward’s playmaking ability? His 21-yard rush to close out a Dec. 25 win against the Las Vegas Raiders gave him as many carries of at least that long this past season as Steelers workhorse running back Najee Harris (one).
By the end of the season, Heyward had made enough plays that his highlight catch against Cleveland — which had CBS’ announcers gushing — barely registered among Heyward’s teammates.
“I’ve seen ‘Meatball’ make a lot of those plays,” Gentry said, unable to suppress a grin. “So that is a routine play for ‘Meatball’ I am super happy for him. He’s rounded out our tight end up group well, and he’s gonna do it again.”
Heyward is a good bet for a heightened role in the Steelers’ offense in 2023. Not bad for a player who entered his rookie NFL season buried on the tight ends depth chart. He wasn’t thrown a pass and played just 12 offensive snaps over the Steelers’ first four games.
Gentry noted the juxtaposition of Heyward’s role by way of his usage in the two games last season against the Browns. Week 3 in Cleveland, Heyward played just six offensive snaps and was not targeted.
“We were watching the film from (that game), and it’s just funny to see how much different of a player he is,” Gentry said the day after the second Browns game. “Not that he’d done a poor job that first game, but you can see how much more confident he is on the field and see that he knows what he’s doing before he does it.
“He knew what he was doing (before), but now he certainly knows what he’s doing now. It’s cool to see him grow up and make more plays. He’s going to be a player here for a while.”
Heyward’s rookie exposure was limited: 174 offensive snaps (15% of the Steelers’ total), 81 routes run (according to Pro Football Focus), 17 targets, 12 catches. But 79 of those snaps, 31 of those routes, nine of those targets and five of those catches came after Dec. 1.
And by all indications, they were successful. Heyward averaged 12.6 yards per catch, 13.5 yards on two rushes and 1.86 receiving yards per route run. That latter figure, provided by PFF, ranked sixth among the 70 NFL tight ends who last season had at least 15 targets.
Of those 70, Heyward graded ninth best, including 10th best at receiving.
“Growing up, I was just used to playing all over the field,” Heyward said, “so whenever the ball’s in the air, I just want to make the catches.”
Said Cameron Heyward: “He continues to just keep growing, and he’s got a high ceiling. The kid can play. And he wants to be good.”
Connor Heyward on the Steelers winning 6 of the last 7 but still missing the playoffs pic.twitter.com/VZHj4sliOx
— Chris Adamski (@C_AdamskiTrib) January 8, 2023
Big brother noted Connor Heyward still has work to do in his blocking, something Little Bro recognizes. But Heyward has proved a fast learner, as was shown after the season when he discussed how to better use his leverage to his advantage, particularly in taking on edge rushers.
All part of Heyward’s on-the-fly adjustment not only to the pro level but to a new position over the past two years.
“Now, I feel really comfortable,” Heyward said of tight end. “This year I felt way more comfortable compared to what I was doing last year in college. In college, I felt like I was doing really good, but I didn’t know why I was doing what I was doing. Now I am just understanding the game so much more and playing so much faster.”
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