CAM HEYWARD
Defensive End
It has been one of the underrated storylines of this season, but never let it be said that having a healthy Cam Heyward in the lineup is underappreciated. With Stephon Tuitt out as a result of the biceps injury he sustained in the regular season opener one week ago, and with the weather taking a toll on many of the bigger men in the game, Heyward rarely came off the field and led the defense in a manner befitting his status as a team captain.
After missing nine regular season games and three postseason games in 2016 with a pectoral injury, Heyward returned for 2017 with the idea of making up for that missed time. Hayward posted four tackles and a sack in the opener against the Browns in Cleveland, and then against the Vikings he finished with six tackles, including one for loss, and he also was credited with two pressures in a 26-9 victory that put the Steelers at 2-0. Cam Heyward is the Steelers Digest Player of the Week.
Also considered were Martavis Bryant, who caught three passes for 91 yards, including a 27-yarder from Ben Roethlisberger that was the Steelers' first touchdown of the game; Vince Williams, who had four tackles, including one for loss, plus one of the team's two sacks of Case Keenum; Bud Dupree, who had two tackles, the other sack, and a pass batted at the line of scrimmage; Roethlisberger, who completed 23-of-35 for 243 yards, with two touchdowns, no interceptions, and a rating of 104.8; Tyson Alualu, who had three tackles and a pressure; and Chris Boswell, who was 4-for-4 on field goals, with makes from 46, 29, 37, and 43 yards.
