The Pittsburgh Steelers can hardly afford to lose Minkah Fitzpatrick, but the star safety suffered an injury against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday. What happened to Fitzpatrick in Week 8, and what is his current injury status?
UPDATE, Oct. 30 (12:10 p.m. ET): Fitzpatrick has already been ruled out of the Steelers’ Thursday night game against the Tennessee Titans.
Minkah Fitzpatrick Injury Update
Fitzpatrick appeared to suffer a non-contact injury in the first quarter of Sunday’s game. He went down away from the play and began grabbing at his right leg.
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Fitzpatrick gingerly walked off the field and appeared to be in some pain. He spent some time in the blue medical tent on the Steelers’ sideline but then quickly went to the locker room.
#Steelers S Minkah Fitzpatrick went down with a non-contact injury on this play.pic.twitter.com/67ohGr8osx
— Pro Football Network (@PFN365) October 29, 2023
The Steelers announced Fitzpatrick was dealing with a hamstring injury. While he was originally listed as questionable to return, Fitzpatrick was eventually ruled out for the rest of the game.
Conditions in Pittsburgh were far from ideal. Misting rain is coming down, and Fitzpatrick may have slipped on the turf.
Fitzpatrick underwent an MRI on Monday, Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
With the All-Pro sidelined, the Steelers — who were deploying ample three-safety looks — relied on Keanu Neal and Damontae Kazee as their top two safeties.
Pittsburgh was already dealing with injuries elsewhere in its defensive backfield. Cornerback Levi Wallace couldn’t suit up for today’s game thanks to a calf injury, forcing rookie second-rounder Joey Porter Jr. into the starting lineup.