How Cam Heyward Become Steelers New Tush Push Member

The Pittsburgh Steelers lost a key part of their team when tight end Darnell Washington suffered a fractured bone in his arm. The injury required surgery and forced him onto the Reserve/Injured List, ending his season.

Not only did the Steelers lose a key piece of their offensive attack, but they lost their literal biggest player. He was a comfort blanket for quarterback Aaron Rodgers and the main piece that made Pittsburgh's "Tush Push" play work.

Without Washington, the Steelers still kept that short-yardage look in their playbook, but they needed a replacement to help guide Connor Heyward over the line to gain. In stepped defensive tackle and Connor's bigger brother, Cam Heyward. Speaking to reporters during his weekly press conference, head coach Mike Tomlin explained the thinking behind replacing Washington with the elder Heyward.

"We lost a big guy," he explained. "We needed a big guy. There aren't many that come bigger than Cam."

Practice Makes Perfect

Practice truly makes perfect, and that was made evident by the Steelers in Week 18. With Cam taking over the designated pusher role, he was stepping into a brand new situation on the football field.

That's probably why the first attempt failed disastrously. As Connor put it after the game, Cam more so tackled him than helped keep his momentum going on the first failed try. After some mediation from Tomlin and a brief, in-game strategy session, the Steelers found success later on with the same play.