Fitzpatrick tallied seven tackles (four solo) during Pittsburgh's win over Baltimore on Sunday. Fitzpatrick finished second on the team in tackles during Sunday's victory behind Patrick Queen's 10. This was just the first time since the team's Week 5 loss to Dallas that Fitzpatrick recorded four or more tackles in a game, and he'll look to build off this solid performance in the team's Week 12 matchup against Cleveland.
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Status
ACTIVELatest Minkah Fitzpatrick news
Team
Pittsburgh Steelers
Birthdate
11/17/1996 (28)
Status
Active
HT/WT
6'1", 207 lbs
Draft Info
2018: Rd 1; Pk (MIA)
Birthplace
Old Bridge, NJ, USA
Position
SAF
College
Alabama
Experience
7 seasons
Career History
Pittsburgh Steelers
2019-Present
(6 seasons)
Miami Dolphins
2018-2019
(2 seasons)
Fitzpatrick tallied seven tackles (four solo) during Pittsburgh's win over Baltimore on Sunday. Fitzpatrick finished second on the team in tackles during Sunday's victory behind Patrick Queen's 10. This was just the first time since the team's Week 5 loss to Dallas that Fitzpatrick recorded four or more tackles in a game, and he'll look to build off this solid performance in the team's Week 12 matchup against Cleveland.
Fitzpatrick tallied 10 tackles (eight solo) and one pass defended in Sunday's 20-17 loss to the Cowboys. Sunday was the first time this year that Fitzpatrick reached double-digit tackles while playing a season-high 74 snaps on defense. The 2018 first-round pick is up to 35 tackles (26 solo) and one pass defended through the first five games of the regular season.
Fitzpatrick totaled nine tackles (six solo) during Sunday's 27-24 loss to the Colts. Fitzpatrick logged the second-most tackles for the Steelers on Sunday behind starting strong safety DeShon Elliot (12). After missing seven regular-season games in 2023 due to multiple injuries, Fitzpatrick has played every single defensive snap through the first four games of 2024, and over that span he's recorded 25 tackles (18 solo).
Fitzpatrick totaled seven tackles (five solo) during the Steelers' 13-6 win over the Broncos on Sunday. Fitzpatrick was the second-leading scorer for the Steelers on Sunday behind strong safety DeShon Elliott, and the duo played a large part in limiting the Broncos to just nine points and zero touchdowns. Fitzpatrick has recorded 14 tackles through the first two games of the season, which has him on pace to break 100 tackles for the second time in his eight-year NFL career. The 2018 first-round pick will have his hands full against the Chargers' receiving corps in Week 3.
Defensive coordinator Teryl Austin said at mandatory minicamp Wednesday that he "failed" to put Fitzpatrick "in the best position" during the 2023 season and intends for him to play more at free safety going forward, Joe Clark of Steelers Depot reports. Fizpatrick played a career-high 134 snaps in the slot last season despite appearing in just 10 games, per Clark, and his 161 snaps at box safety were the second-highest tally of his career. That heavily intruded on Fitzpatrick's ability to suit up at free safety, where his talents best shine, resulting in his first year without a single turnover. Fitzpatrick said he hopes to get back to playing "Minkah Ball" in 2024, and getting the 2018 first-round pick back to a deep safety role could allow him to return to his four-time Pro Bowler form. The addition of DeShon Elliott in free agency should facilitate that plan.
Fitzpatrick made 64 tackles (43 solo) and three pass breakups across 10 regular-season games in 2023. Fitzpatrick missed seven total games in 2023 due to a combination of knee and hand injuries, but he managed to return to health in time for Pittsburgh's wild-card playoff loss to the Bills, a game in which he logged 10 tackles (five solo). In just 10 regular-season appearances, five of Fitzpatrick's games saw him achieve double-digit tackle totals. The 27-year-old remains one of the league's true standout safeties, with big-play potential to lend him serious fantasy upside as well. Fitzpatrick has three years remaining on his contract with the Steelers.
Fitzpatrick has missed Pittsburgh's last three games, and he was unable to practice all week, so it's not a surprise that the All-Pro safety won't suit up for Sunday's contest. Trenton Thompson and Miles Killebrew will both likely see increased snaps in the Steelers' secondary in Fitzpatrick's stead.
Fitzpatrick was set to undergo an MRI on Monday, but one way or the other, he'll have to sit out at least one game as he recovers from his hamstring injury. Keanu Neal will probably start at safety versus the Titans in Fitzpatrick's absence.
Fitzpatrick finished Sunday's game with two tackles before leaving in the first quarter. The MRI on Monday will determine the severity of the injury and whether Fitzpatrick will miss time. He will have an uphill battle to play in Week 9 against the Titans on Thursday night.