PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – Missing over a month with a hamstring injury, Minkah Fitzpatrick returns on Sunday against Arizona. Fitzpatrick confirmed Friday, said he feels ‘great’.
Fitzpatrick was injured early in the loss to Jacksonville and it’s his first practice since before that late October game. Before the injury, Fitzpatrick had 42 tackles in his previous four games.
“He means so much, not just to the secondary, but the entire defense getting guys lined up, the play-making ability,” said Steelers safety Patrick Peterson. “The fire that he brings each-and-every play.”
“He brings a lot of communication and he’s a heck of a player, covers a lot of space,” said Steelers captain Cam Heyward. “I know we’ve had a lot of guys in there, moving things around. You get a guy like that back, it’s definitely a big plus for our team.”
“Having him back in the lineup definitely helps us to be able to do a lot of different things,” said linebacker Alex Highsmith. “He’s so versatile in what he does. Having that for our defense, we can mix it up a good bit.”
While they’ve thrown a lot of different combinations over the last few games in his absence, Minkah’s return allows them to do more with less. His ability to not only ball hawk, but also a guy you can put in the box against a running back like James Conner.
It would also mean, for the exception of a few snaps against the 49ers, the Steelers would have their version of the Big 3 on the field at the same time.
“I think it helps our defense when we have three quality players like that, and I think we've got to get those guys better and playing, and if we get them all together and we're playing well and we continue with an upward trajectory, I think we're going to like it,” said Steelers defensive coordinator Teryl Austin. “Because I think we have outstanding players, and those guys are three at the best at their position in the league. If we have all three of them on the field together, we can only hope we play better.”
It’s also provided the added benefit to find a player like Trenton Thompson, who you can count on in the future only because of those reps. You saw the versatility of Patrick Peterson and how Joey Porter, Junior grew without having the leader of the secondary in there. They have tested depth when they are needed down the stretch.
“I’m thankful for the guys who have stepped up and played huge minutes for us,” Highsmith said.
But now they are even more thankful to have their three defensive leaders back heading into December football.
“We are extremely blessed to get Minkah back at this time of year,” Peterson said. “We really feel like we are trending in the right direction. When you are trending in the right direction and get a five-star player like Minkah. Man, let’s see where it really can take us.”