It doesn’t sound like contract negotiations are going great between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Cameron Heyward. It doesn’t sound like Omar Khan thinks the Steelers need a wide receiver.
It does sound like a former Steeler will have a big role in the preseason game against Tampa. And it also sounds like Mike Tomlin is pushing his chips behind Jalen Ramsey.
Sounds like a “First Call” for Wednesday.
Spoiled ‘appetite’
On Tuesday’s ESPN “NFL Live,” Adam Schefter said the Steelers haven’t had significant conversations of late about the prospect of ending Cam Heyward’s hold-in.
“The two sides have not had very many discussions about it, and the Steelers have not had a huge appetite to reward him right now,” Schefter said.
Schefter added that the Steelers’ decision to pay as many people as they did this offseason may be exacerbating the situation.
“Pittsburgh, this offseason, has gone out of its way to take care of any number of players from outside and inside the organization. DK Metcalf, Jalen Ramsey, (Jonnu) Smith, Darius Slay, and of course, T.J. Watt. So all these players that have had nothing to do with Pittsburgh’s prior success got paid.
“T.J. Watt got paid. And here’s a player who feels like he’s meant an awful lot to this team who hasn’t gotten paid. And the two sides have not bridged any of their differences. And it doesn’t seem like the Steelers want to pay him right now.”
Heyward hasn’t ruled out the notion of taking this disagreement into the regular season and perhaps missing games.
Nuthin’ to say
Steelers general manager Omar Khan went on WDVE on Tuesday morning and refused to comment on either Heyward’s hold-in, or the one surrounding kicker Chris Boswell.
“We’re not going to talk about contractual issues,” Khan told the ‘DVE morning show. “I’ve known those guys for a long time, and I’m confident that those guys want to be world champions. That’s what we’re seeking. That’s what we all want.”
Well, it sounds like Heyward and Boswell are both seeking significantly more money first.
Boswell might be the best kicker in the NFL, and he is only making $4.72 million against the cap. That’s 1.7% of the cap. Heyward, meanwhile, is probably looking for at least some of his 2026 roster bonus ($12.95 million) into cash right away.
Khan, however, did speak about the Steelers’ wide receiver position, insisting that he thinks it’s deep enough despite trading George Pickens after the draft.
“I feel really good about that receiver room,” Khan said during the interview. “In my opening press conference, I got a bunch of questions comparing it to last year. And to me, it’s not even close. I mean, you guys saw some of it this past weekend … Calvin (Austin) is banged up a little bit, but we’ll get him back. But Roman Wilson and Brandon Johnson, you saw the emergence of young guys like Ke’Shawn (Williams) and obviously we added DK (Metcalf).”
Yeah, but still, none of those guys are an adequate replacement for Pickens — unless the team truly believes his departure can be offset by Jonnu Smith at tight end.
Which I fear they really do believe.
Cleat on the other ‘Foote’
Former Steeler Larry Foote is coming back to Acrisure Stadium this week with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He’s doing so as the team’s outside linebackers coach and run game coordinator.
According to Pewter Report, Foote is going to have the chance to call plays during the team’s preseason game against the Steelers on Saturday.
#Bucs OLBs coach and run game coordinator Larry Foote will be calling plays on defense for Tampa Bay on Saturday night in Pittsburgh.
Foote was an ILB for the Steelers for 11 years (2002-08, 2010-13).
— PewterReport ????☠️ (@PewterReport) August 12, 2025
The teams are also scrimmaging against each other Thursday.
Foote has been on Tampa Bay’s staff since 2019. He won a Super Bowl there in 2020. Prior to that, he was a coach with the Arizona Cardinals from 2015-18.
Foote won two Super Bowls as a player with the Steelers in 2005 and 2008. He also played with Detroit and the Cardinals.
More sports
• Rookie QB Will Howard adjusting to ‘freak accident’ that prematurely ended 1st Steelers camp
• Steelers inside the ropes: ‘Really smart’ Connor Heyward makes plays in final camp practice
• Steelers camp report: Mike Tomlin finds ‘value’ in another summer spent at Saint Vincent College
5 on 1
Steelers defensive back Jalen Ramsey was a guest on a recent edition of “The Pivot” podcast. He told former Steeler Ryan Clark that he’ll be the one guarding Cincinnati star receiver Ja’Marr Chase.
“That’s me,” Ramsey said. “That’s J. That’s (No.) 5 for now. And Joey (Porter) is going to get his (opportunities). But that’s 5 right now.”
The Cincinnati Bengals’ Ja’Marr Chase was a Triple Crown winner last season. #Steelers coverman Jalen Ramsey has a clear idea of who’s gonna be tasked to cover him this season. #HereWeGo
(Via @thepivot) pic.twitter.com/ItyYmRkiAl
— Brendan Howe (@bybrendanhowe) August 12, 2025
Presumably, that would leave Tee Higgins for Porter Jr. or Darius Slay. Porter struggled with Higgins in Cincinnati last year, as he had 69 yards on five catches and a touchdown while drawing six flags.
Chase won the receiver Triple Crown last year, leading the NFL in yards (1,708), catches (127) and touchdowns (17).
Via a SteelersNow transcription of the podcast, Ramsey said head coach Mike Tomlin has already communicated his wishes to the corners about who will get the main coverage assignments.
”He even butted in and told (those) two, like, ‘Hey, J’s gonna be the guy right now. And we’re gonna get you yours too. But J’s gonna be the one popping it off,” Ramsey said. “We’re gonna give the people what they want. J’s gonna be the one.’”
The Steelers are in Cincy for a Week 7 Thursday night game. The Bengals come to Pittsburgh in Week 11.
Listen: Tim Benz and Chris Adamski wrap up Steelers training camp 2025
Tim Benz is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Tim at tbenz@triblive.com or via X. All tweets could be reposted. All emails are subject to publication unless specified otherwise.
