Cameron Heyward discusses warning he gave Russell Wilson about Steelers

It was previously learned that veteran Pittsburgh Steelers defensive lineman Cameron Heyward was a "big advocate" for the club's signing of quarterback Russell Wilson in March.

During a Thursday appearance on the "Up & Adams Show with Kay Adams," Heyward shared how he spoke with Wilson shortly before the 35-year-old inked a team-friendly contract to join the Steelers.

"I was out at a conference in Arizona," Heyward explained, per Alex Kozora of Steelers Depot. "And then I came back to my room and me and Russ just talked for about two hours. We talked ball. I know he was having conversations with the Steelers. The main thing I told him was just, this isn't the place for glitz and glamor. It's not L.A., it's not Atlanta. This is the place where the gladiators come, and we're gonna compete every day. Just hearing from him, he was receptive to that."

Heyward's words seemingly landed, as Wilson reportedly will enter training camp as the "undisputed leader" of Pittsburgh's offense ahead of 25-year-old signal-caller Justin Fields. Meanwhile, Heyward has repeatedly made it known since the spring that he's excited about what Wilson has already brought the team and how the one-time Super Bowl champion quickly embraced "what it is to be a Pittsburgh Steeler."

"He’s so detail-oriented," Heyward added about Wilson on Thursday, according to Chris Ward of Steelers Now. "He does the little things, and it’s really benefited our young guys. Just picking up that knowledge at an early age. He’s going to unlock a lot of things, not just for him, but for the team."

Like Fields, Wilson is signed only through the upcoming season and, thus, will spend the next handful of months attempting to earn either a contract extension or a new deal from the Steelers before March 2025 arrives. While Fields theoretically should receive an opportunity to compete for a starting job either with Pittsburgh or a different club next year, Wilson needs to repair his reputation and show he can be at least an above-average player at the sport's most important position coming off a rough two-season stint with the Denver Broncos.