Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said he would "not get into the length of time" defensive end Cam Heyward will be sidelined with a significant hamstring tear, only to say he will not play Sunday against the Miami Dolphins.
However, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette has confirmed that Heyward will miss at least the next two games and is not expected to return until the Nov. 6 game in Baltimore at the earliest.
Heyward, who leads the team with three sacks and is second in quarterback hurries (three), had a magnetic resonance imaging exam Monday that revealed the nature of the injury. He was injured in the second quarter against the New York Jets.
Heyward never missed a game in college at Ohio State and has never missed a game since he was a first-round draft choice in 2011.
"I'm not going to get into the length of time he will be out," Tomlin said at his weekly televised news conference. "Being around him as long as I have, he doesn't fall into the realm of what's normal. He has that kind of commitment."
The Steelers have a bye week after playing host to the New England Patriots on Oct. 23, so it is possible Heyward could only miss two games before returning against the Ravens. But severe hamstring injuries can sometimes take three to five weeks to recover.
Heyward's injury is to the same left leg as the high ankle sprain he sustained in late August. However, there is no correlation between the injuries.
With Heyward out, it is likely that Ricardo Matthews, who was signed in free agency, will be the starter at right defensive end. However, Tomlin said Matthews will be just one of several players who will be rotated to replace Heyward.
"He's got a ridiculous motor," Tomlin said of Matthews. "He's highly conditioned for a guy his size. Those things we like. We're excited about the opportunity presented him and others given the misfortune with Cam."
Tomlin also said backup center Cody Wallace (knee) and safety Shamarko Thomas (groin) will not play against the Dolphins. Wallace has not dressed this season.
Tomlin was unclear about the status of other injured players, saying it is "status quo" with inside linebacker Ryan Shazier (knee), safety Robert Golden (hamstring), right tackle Marcus Gilbert (ankle), receivers Markus Wheaton (shoulder) and Eli Rogers (turf toe) and fullback Roosevelt Nix (back). He also said running back DeAngelo Williams injured his knee against the Jets, but expects him to play in Miami.
