The Pittsburgh Steelers announced that they’ve placed DE Cameron Heyward and WR Markus Wheaton on injured reserve Saturday.
This doesn’t come as a big surprising, considering that Heyward announced Tuesday via his Instagram account that he’ll miss the remainder of the 2016 season with a torn pectoral muscle.
“I would like to thank everyone who has been in my corner this season. It pains me to say that I will not get to continue playing this season. My role will change as I can not play but it will not change the goals the team has set out. My support for this team will only grow and I look forward in watching this team grow and fight on. Hate being on the sideline but there is a greater plan taking place. My patience will be tested but I look forward to 2017. My hand will remain in the pile no matter what!”
Heyward, 27, is a former first-round pick of the Steelers back in 2011. He’s currently in the second year of his six-year, $59.2 million contract that included $15 million guaranteed and stands to make a base salary of $3 million for the 2016 season.
This year, Cameron has appeared in seven games for the Steelers and recorded 21 tackles, three sacks, a fumble recovery and four pass defenses. Pro Football Focus has him rated as the No. 38 interior defender out of 120 qualifying players.
Wheaton, 25, is a former third-round pick of the Steelers back in 2013. He’s currently in the final year of his four-year, $2,811,376 contract and stands to make a base salary of $695,000 for the 2016 season.
Wheaton will be an unrestricted free agent next year.
In 2016, Wheaton appeared three games for the Steelers and caught four passes for 51 yards receiving and one touchdown.
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