Mike Tomlin Updates Minkah Fitzpatrick Injury Status, Out This Week

PITTSBURGH — The miserable injury luck continues for Pittsburgh Steelers All-Pro free safety Minkah Fitzpatrick, who has been ruled out of the team’s Week 16 game against the Cincinnati Bengals.

Fitzpatrick suffered a left knee injury during the second quarter of the team’s Week 15 loss to the Indianapolis Colts on Saturday in a collision with fellow safety Trenton Thompson. Fitzpatrick was initially ruled as questionable to return, but did not come back after halftime.

Tomlin ruled him out this week, but said it was too soon to know if Fitzpatrick will miss more time than that.

The injury is the third major ailment for Fitzpatrick this season. He missed four games with a hamstring injury suffered against the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 8. He had been playing with a broken left hand suffered in the team’s Week 12 loss to the Arizona Cardinals on Dec. 3.

When he was out earlier this season, Damontae Kazee moved over from strong safety to replace him. That won’t be an option, as Kazee has been suspended for the rest of the 2023 season for a hit on Colts wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. that happened one play before Kazee’s injury.

With both players out, the Steelers turned to veteran cornerback Patrick Peterson at free safety and Trenton Thompson as strong safety for the remainder of the game. When Thompson was injured, Miles Killebrew replaced him at strong safety.

Tomlin said that remains an option, as well as practice squad player Eric Rowe, and Elijah Riley, who is eligible to come off the injured reserve list this week.

On the season, Fitzpatrick has 64 tackles, one tackle for loss, three passes defended, no sacks, no forced fumbles, no fumble recoveries and no interceptions.

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