Steelers expect Cam Heyward to play in opener amid contract dispute

Pittsburgh Steelers defensive lineman Cam Heyward is expected to play in the team’s season opener Sunday against the New York Jets, coach Mike Tomlin said Tuesday, even as the veteran remains publicly engaged in a contract dispute that has left his Week 1 availability uncertain. Heyward, 36, spent much of training camp limiting on-field work in a bid to secure a new deal and has alternately suggested he might sit out if an agreement is not reached.

Tomlin told reporters he has "no reservations" about Heyward’s readiness and added, "I’m certainly expecting Cam Heyward to play." The coach said he is comfortable managing Heyward’s limited participation during camp, noting the veteran "doesn’t play a lot in team development over the last several years" and that his job is to get the player in and out of Latrobe. Tomlin also left little doubt about fellow defensive lineman Derrick Harmon, ruling Harmon out for Sunday after a preseason knee injury, while calling linebacker Nick Herbig questionable.

Heyward has been publicly forthright about seeking a contract adjustment despite signing an extension last year. Accounts vary on the exact terms: some reports describe the deal as a...