One of the few positives for the Pittsburgh Steelers has been the play of veteran defensive lineman Cameron Heyward as of late.
Following surgery, Heyward spent seven weeks on the team's reserved/injured list after suffering a significant groin injury in the team's Week 1 loss to the San Francisco 49ers. Since his return to action in Week 9 against the Tennessee Titans, Heyward has made huge leaps in this level of play.
Since their victory over the Green Bay Packers in Week 10, Heyward has held the highest run-stop percentage (16.3%) in the NFL, according to Pro Football Focus. Heyward was a force on the Steelers defensive line last Thursday in their Week 14 loss to the New England Patriots. He finished the game with a sack, a tackle for loss, and six total tackles.
Heyward's improved play comes at the right time for the team as they enter a pivotal Week 15 contest against the Indianapolis Colts. At 7-6, they are in dire need of a win in order to hold their playoff position in the AFC. The team will need Heyward and the rest of the defense to be at their best to pull off a big win on Saturday night.