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De Pere’s Heim still hoping for NFL future

By Greg Bates
Correspondent


DE PERE – Every Sunday, Monday and Tuesday, Evan Heim meticulously reads through the latest NFL transaction wire.

If there’s an offensive lineman on the list, it piques the interest of the 2015 De Pere High School graduate – it could be a job opportunity.

“If a guy goes on IR (injured reserve) or gets COVID-19 that week, this might be the week I’m going back,” Heim said.

The 24-year-old has been jobless from the NFL since the Detroit Lions cut him Aug. 30.

A standout offensive lineman at Minnesota State-Mankato, Heim got a taste of the NFL.

Heim
Evan Heim

And now, he’s looking to make it back.

After being released by the Lions to get down to their 53-man roster, Heim moved back to De Pere to live with his parents.

Working out five to six times a day, he was expecting to get a chance from another team within the first four to five weeks, but, that didn’t happen.

“I was talking with my agent, and teams were calling, but none of them pulled the trigger to bring me in for a workout,” Heim said.

Heim’s agent is still fielding calls from teams — around eight to 12 have inquired since early September — so there’s interest.

Because he doesn’t know which teams could be calling him, Heim said he has to answer his phone when random numbers come through.

“I’ve talked to a lot more telemarketers this year than I ever have,” Heim joked.

Heim said he’s confident he’ll get another shot in the NFL.

“I think I will,” he said. “I know November and December normally is when teams traditionally bring more guys in so they can get ready for the next year.”

Since early October, Heim has been working full-time at Tonz Construction in Green Bay.

Five mornings a week, he works out at Synergy Sports Performance in Green Bay to stay in football shape.

Most recently, during the week of Oct. 8, a team reached out to Heim’s agent.

Heim didn’t want to reveal which team, but it was making several roster moves and was possibly going to have an opening.

A player was going to be cut from the active roster, and if he cleared waivers, he was going to be added to that team’s practice squad.

If he was claimed by another team, there would be a roster opening and Heim should be ready.

Unfortunately, for Heim, that player cleared waivers and was picked back up by the same team.

Heim said it gives him confidence NFL teams are interested in possibly giving him a shot.

It’s a positive thing because Heim tried in 2020 to make an NFL roster but didn’t have any teams even grant him a tryout.

“It’s good to hear from teams because they’re like, ‘Hey, is he still in shape? Is he still working out?’ And I’m like, ‘Yeah, I am,’” Heim said. “It’s good teams are still interested because I didn’t have any teams last year. That’s what I keep going back to. Last year, I hardly had any teams looking at me at this time.”

Heim played in two of the Lions’ three preseason games this year, so he garnered some NFL game experience.

Against the Buffalo Bills in the preseason opener, he played in 25% of the snaps.

In the next game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Heim didn’t play.

In the final preseason game, he was on the field for 36% of the snaps.

However, three days after that contest, Heim was cut.

Heim — who had his choice in the offseason to sign with the Lions, New York Giants or New Orleans Saints, ultimately choosing the Lions — is trying to be a versatile offensive lineman.

He can play the three interior positions on the line: the two guards and center.

He showed that versatility during the preseason.

“I have film out there, and that’s the biggest thing,” Heim said. “Then it’s being young and healthy. Those are always good things, and that’s what people always need.”

Heim said he feels like he’s improved as a player since his last NFL snap.

He said he’s always been a solid run blocker, but he’s trying to get better at pass protection.

“Then getting used to the speed of the NFL because I came from a D-II school,” Heim said. “It was a jump up. I do pass pro drills at least twice a week and then run blocking at least once a week.”

Heim, who was born the same day the Packers won Super Bowl XXXI, said he would love to join his hometown team.

However, he’d be satisfied latching onto any team at this point.

“The biggest thing for me is keeping myself mentally strong,” Heim said.

When Heim flips on the television on Sundays to watch NFL games, he said it whets his appetite.
“It makes me want to get back out there,” he said. “But then I’m not there, and it’s not a whirlwind of emotions, but it’s like ‘Crap, I wish I was out there right now.’ I’ve got to stay ready so when my time does come again, I’ll be good to go.”

Heim said he knows the window on his NFL dream is shrinking with each passing week, but he’ll continue to hold out hope — and work out hard — in hopes of making a team.

“I’ll probably still give it a go until this next draft cycle goes through, end of April, early May,” he said. “If I can get back on a 90-man roster again next year and then work my way from there. In May, if I don’t hear anything by then, I’ll be like, ‘OK, time to start my career.’”

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