Countdown to Camp: Darrius Heyward-Bey
Countdown to Camp is a series aimed at preparing fans for the Pittsburgh Steelers upcoming training camp by focusing on players who were on the 2016 roster. Each profile will include basic statistics and a hand selected highlight from last year.
| Darrius Heyward-Bey | 88 |
|---|---|
| Position | Wide Receiver |
| Date of birth | February 26, 1987 (age 30) |
| Place of birth | Silver Spring, Maryland |
| Height | 6-2 |
| Weight | 219 |
| High school | Owings Mills (MD) McDonogh |
| College | Maryland |
| NFL Draft | 2009 / Round 1 / Pick 7 |
| Career | Oakland Raiders (2009-2012) |
| Indianapolis Colts (2013) | |
| Pittsburgh Steelers (2014-present) |
Darrius Heyward-Bey came to the Steelers in a way many wouldn’t have anticipated. Drafted by the Oakland Raiders, he overcame hamstring issues to have a decent four-season stretch as a wideout before an unfortunate incident. In the fourth quarter of a September 23, 2012, game against the Steelers, Heyward-Bey and Ryan Mundy collided; Heyward-Bey would leave the field on a stretcher but was later released.
After a single season with the Indianapolis Colts, the Steelers were looking for depth and a guy with good hands, especially on special teams. They signed Heyward-Bey to a one-year contract in 2014, but he saw little playing time with the offense.
After the Steelers released Lance Moore and were informed of a four-game suspension of Martavis Bryant in 2015, Heyward-Bey moved to the number three receiver position behind Antonio Brown and Markus Wheaton.
In back-to-back weeks, Heyward-Bey achieved his highest receiving yardage total since December 2012. He also earned the trust of Ben Roethlisberger. Heyward-Bey would fill in for Bryant again later in the season due to injury.
After re-signing Heyward-Bey on a three-year contract, Heyward-Bey was once again in the middle of a pack of talented receivers and was a bit of a utility player in 2016.
Heyward-Bey will be competing heavily for a spot on the final 53-man roster during training camp this year in a very crowded wide receiving corps. His veteran experience and solid catching ability could give him an edge, but he’ll have to show up in top form to earn a place with the Steelers offense.
Career Stats
| Year | Age | Tm | G | GS | Tgt | Rec | Yds | Y/R | TD | Lng |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | 22 | OAK | 11 | 11 | 40 | 9 | 124 | 13.8 | 1 | 24 |
| 2010 | 23 | OAK | 15 | 14 | 65 | 26 | 366 | 14.1 | 1 | 69 |
| 2011 | 24 | OAK | 15 | 14 | 115 | 64 | 975 | 15.2 | 4 | 58 |
| 2012 | 25 | OAK | 15 | 14 | 80 | 41 | 606 | 14.8 | 5 | 59 |
| 2013 | 26 | IND | 16 | 11 | 64 | 29 | 309 | 10.7 | 1 | 27 |
| 2014 | 27 | PIT | 16 | 1 | 5 | 3 | 33 | 11 | 0 | 17 |
| 2015 | 28 | PIT | 16 | 4 | 39 | 21 | 314 | 15 | 2 | 66 |
| 2016 | 29 | PIT | 10 | 0 | 19 | 6 | 114 | 19 | 2 | 46 |
| Career | 114 | 69 | 427 | 199 | 2841 | 14.3 | 16 | 69 | ||
| 4 yrs | OAK | 56 | 53 | 300 | 140 | 2071 | 14.8 | 11 | 69 | |
| 3 yrs | PIT | 42 | 5 | 63 | 30 | 461 | 15.4 | 4 | 66 | |
| 1 yr | IND | 16 | 11 | 64 | 29 | 309 | 10.7 | 1 | 27 |
Heyward-Bey Highlight
https://twitter.com/steelcityundrgr/status/889819287413825537
