‘Really Special To Be A Part Of:’ Cam Heyward Says Steelers’ Team Bonding Was Highlight Of Ireland Trip
The Pittsburgh Steelers played their first international game in over a decade, with the team heading to Ireland for its Week 4 matchup with the Minnesota Vikings. Not only did the Steelers pick up a win, they got a lot closer as a team. On his Not Just Football podcast, Cam Heyward said that the team bonding in Ireland was one of the highlights of the trip.
“We really captured some good team bonding. And it’s hard in our game today. Everybody’s on their phones, everybody’s got a million things going on, everybody’s got podcasts,” Heyward said. “To have an opportunity to just be with the boys, to talk about Netflix documentaries, to talk about guys having Netflix documentaries about them, The Enigma. Talking about what’s going on in our lives, how we can all just hang out, coaches involved. It was really special to be a part of. Good vibes.”
Not only did the Steelers all stay at the same location overseas, a five-star resort 40 minutes from the hustle and bustle of downtown Dublin, but they also had a long flight to and from Dublin. It’s a good chance for guys to get closer to one another. It’s different from a normal road trip, where the Steelers travel to a place where many of the players have probably played before and have their routine. It’s a new country and environment, which helped the team bond.
It’s similar to the vibe at training camp. Everyone’s staying in dorms at Saint Vincent College, and players and coaches hang out and get closer ahead of the season. In-season, it can be hard to maintain that same sense of camaraderie. Players have families and other commitments that take up their time off the field, and they aren’t spending as much time with one another. It’s good that this trip provided that opportunity.
Having a team where everyone has each other’s back and guys want to play for another is key, and it’s good to hear that the Steelers got closer as a team on this trip. They have a long second half of the season with an early Week 5 bye, and there’s going to be some tough moments where guys will need to lift each other up. Getting closer on a personal and professional level will make that easier to accomplish.
Several Young Steelers Could Return After Bye Week
PITTSBURGH — The most recent draft class of the Pittsburgh Steelers is already making an impact as the team jumps out to a 3-1 record entering their bye week.
First-round pick Derrick Harmon has been an immediate contributor along the defensive line, while mid-round picks Jack Sawyer and Yahya Black have been impressive in small doses through four weeks. Two of their fellow draft classmates, however, have not been able to get their careers off the ground in 2025.
With the pending bye week and another week of preparation until their next game, the Steelers have the opportunity to finally get two of their most important rookies back into the fold. Sixth-round pick quarterback Will Howard and seventh-round defensive back Donte Kent are both eligible to come off the Reserved/Injured List and open up their practice window to return to the the 53-man roster.
The team hasn’t officially activated any of these players, but it’s a strong possibility that at least Howard and Trice return to practice with the goal of getting them in for their Week 6 matchup against the Cleveland Browns.
For Howard, it could be a step back in the right direction after his impressive start to training camp. The first-year QB had earned the third-string position on the depth chart before a broken pinky sidelined him for the initial portion of the season. The 23-year-old could now be in line to stick as the number three/emergency quarterback for the rest of the year and take a more active role learning under Aaron Rodgers and Mason Rudolph.
Defensive Back Help
Getting Kent back will be a welcomed addition for the defense. Mainly, having Kent gives the team another player they really like in the secondary. While superstar cornerback Jalen Ramsey recovers from a lower-body injury that could keep him out multiple games, another NFL-caliber defensive back will be needed to keep their rotation going.
Trice Could Return
Adding to that potential help is another young player nearing a return.
Cory Trice Jr, a third-year cornerback brimming with potential, has been recovering from a hamstring injury suffered during training camp. The 25-year-old is well-regarded by the Steelers but has only played in six games in his NFL career due to multiple injuries. Still, the 6'3" DB is a strong outside cornerback who, when healthy, has the length and speed to blanket receivers.
He is an immediate help and contributor if he comes off the IR.
