Pittsburgh Steelers safety Minkah Fitzpatrick (39) practices at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex preparing for a Week 1 matchup against the New York Giants, Thursday, Sept. 10, 2020 in Pittsburgh, PA. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers safety Minkah Fitzpatrick (39) practices at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex preparing for a Week 1 matchup against the New York Giants, Thursday, Sept. 10, 2020 in Pittsburgh, PA. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)
The 2020 NFL season will begin on Thursday evening, with the Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs facing the Houston Texans.
The Steelers, however, have some extra time to prepare, as they don’t start their season until Monday night in New Jersey against the New York Giants. The difference on a normal season week is noticeable, with Thursday night games notorious for their somewhat sloppy level of play.
That’s not usually an issue for the season-opening Thursday, with teams having an entire offseason to prepare, but not much is usual in 2020, and the Steelers seem grateful for the extra time to prepare.
“The mistakes you make in the game are mistakes you’re making in practice,” starting safety Minkah Fitzpatrick said on Thursday. “You’re not going to know exactly where you’re at [in comparison with a normal season], because it’s not really live bullets out there, but you can get a good feel of what you need to work on and what you don’t.”
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger (7) practices at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex preparing for a Week 1 matchup against the New York Giants, Thursday, Sept. 10, 2020 in Pittsburgh, PA. (Caitlyn Epes / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers running back Benny Snell Jr. (24) practices at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex preparing for a Week 1 matchup against the New York Giants, Thursday, Sept. 10, 2020 in Pittsburgh, PA. (Caitlyn Epes / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers punter Dustin Colquitt (4) practices at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex preparing for a Week 1 matchup against the New York Giants, Thursday, Sept. 10, 2020 in Pittsburgh, PA. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin practices at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex preparing for a Week 1 matchup against the New York Giants, Thursday, Sept. 10, 2020 in Pittsburgh, PA. (Caitlyn Epes / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger (7) practices at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex preparing for a Week 1 matchup against the New York Giants, Thursday, Sept. 10, 2020 in Pittsburgh, PA. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger (7) practices at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex preparing for a Week 1 matchup against the New York Giants, Thursday, Sept. 10, 2020 in Pittsburgh, PA. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers safety Minkah Fitzpatrick (39) practices at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex preparing for a Week 1 matchup against the New York Giants, Thursday, Sept. 10, 2020 in Pittsburgh, PA. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Joshua Dobbs (5) practices at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex preparing for a Week 1 matchup against the New York Giants, Thursday, Sept. 10, 2020 in Pittsburgh, PA. (Caitlyn Epes / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Ray-Ray McCloud (14) practices at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex preparing for a Week 1 matchup against the New York Giants, Thursday, Sept. 10, 2020 in Pittsburgh, PA. (Caitlyn Epes / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin practices at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex preparing for a Week 1 matchup against the New York Giants, Thursday, Sept. 10, 2020 in Pittsburgh, PA. (Caitlyn Epes / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers kicker Chris Boswell (9) practices at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex preparing for a Week 1 matchup against the New York Giants, Thursday, Sept. 10, 2020 in Pittsburgh, PA. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers safety Minkah Fitzpatrick (39) practices at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex preparing for a Week 1 matchup against the New York Giants, Thursday, Sept. 10, 2020 in Pittsburgh, PA. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers running back James Conner (30) practices at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex preparing for a Week 1 matchup against the New York Giants, Thursday, Sept. 10, 2020 in Pittsburgh, PA. (Caitlyn Epes / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker T.J. Watt (90) practices at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex preparing for a Week 1 matchup against the New York Giants, Thursday, Sept. 10, 2020 in Pittsburgh, PA. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Vince Williams (98) practices at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex preparing for a Week 1 matchup against the New York Giants, Thursday, Sept. 10, 2020 in Pittsburgh, PA. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pittsburgh Steelers safety Minkah Fitzpatrick (39) practices at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex preparing for a Week 1 matchup against the New York Giants, Thursday, Sept. 10, 2020 in Pittsburgh, PA. (Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers)
