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PITTSBURGH (AP) — Pittsburgh Steelers defensive Cam Heyward is growing into his role as a leader on a defense in transition.
Heyward has two of Pittsburgh's seven sacks through the season's first four games, including the Steelers' only sack of Tampa Bay's Mike Glennon in a stunning loss to the Buccaneers last Sunday.
Heyward took responsibility for the loss, pointing to a 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty he received for arguing with an official as the kind of mental mistakes he needs to avoid.
The former first-round draft pick says he's at the part of his career where he needs to start speaking up, something he learned from mentors like Casey Hampton and Aaron Smith, who are retired.
The Steelers (2-2) are at Jacksonville (0-4) on Sunday.
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