Jared Verse put a target on his back prior to the NFL rematch between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Cleveland Browns. The third-year defensive lineman made some bold accusations, which got the attention of Cam Heyward and Mason McCormick.
His words (and actions!) caught up with him on Sunday.
The NFL officiating crew called McCormick for unnecessary roughness after he body-slammed Verse to the ground. It was not subtle.
Cam Heyward vowed to make Jared Verse pay.
The Browns and the Steelers already do not like each other as division rivals. Their current records add even more fuel to the fire. Pittsburgh and Cleveland both entered Sunday’s game at 5-2. The latter held the tiebreaker over the former with its win in Week 4.
Jared Verse made himself very clear after the victory in September. He took a direct shot at the Steelers.
“I don’t got no respect for anybody that plays too dirty and that does too much extra s— after the game. I can’t wait until we see them again. I’m going to put that one on the calendar. I can’t wait to get my hands on them again.”
Cam Heyward took issue with Verse’s insinuation. The veteran offensive lineman shared his thoughts during an appearance on The Rich Eisen Show earlier this week.
“Double teaming, sliding, chipping, are those not allowed in our game? Yeah, I got the bruises to prove it. But we don’t whine about it, baby. It’s part of the game. And so, I’m looking forward to this game. It’s gonna be a fun game. Both teams are in position to do a lot of work in the division, as they say. The AFC North is on fire and I’m glad I’m in the kitchen because I like it that way. But those are words that were said and they will be addressed.”
If that was not spicy enough, Verse further escalated the beef during pregame. He always walks around the entire perimeter of the field and touches every pylon along the way. His walk on Sunday went right through the middle of Heyward’s warmup routine.
Browns DE Jared Verse pregame walk around the stadium goes right through Steelers DR Cam Heyward’s warmup routine
— Chris Renkel (@Chris_Renkel) November 1, 2026
Heyward had said this week Verse’s comments about cheap shots from the Pittsburgh OL ‘’will be addressed’’ pic.twitter.com/ytND0wTJwk
Was it a coincidence? Perhaps. Either way, it was not subtle. Verse walked right past Heyward.
Pittsburgh Steelers offensive lineman Mason McCormick body-slammed the Cleveland Browns defensive end.
It seems like Cam Heyward was not the only offensive lineman to take issue with what Jared Verse had to say at the beginning of the season. Mason McCormick lined up across from him on a field goal during the first half of the rematch.
McCormick is 6-foot-5, 315 pounds. Verse is 6-foot-4, 260 pounds. Verse jumped up to try and block the kick. McCormick caught him in mid air and threw him to the ground with an extra shove on the release for good measure.
Safe to say Mason McCormick heard Jared Verse trash talk this week pic.twitter.com/vPcCwUPlUh
— WeAreBigGuys (@WeAreBigGuys) November 1, 2026
McCormick was flagged for unnecessary roughness. The 15-yard penalty was enforced on the kickoff. Some NFL fans agreed with the officials that it was an egregious action. Others thought it was just guys being dudes.
No matter what you might think of McCormick’s retaliatory body slam, it plays right into Verse’s accusation about “dirty” play!