Steelers Injury Updates: Optimism for Minkah Fitzpatrick Return

PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Steelers are still dealing with a number of injury issues on the defense, but are down to just two players to monitor on a day-to-day basis.

Free safety Minkah Fitzpatrick (right hamstring) and nose tackle Montravius Adams (right ankle) are both hoping to work their way back into the lineup this week.

“Minkah is working hard to be component of this week’s plan, as is Mont Adams,” head coach Mike Tomlin said on Tuesday. “In both cases, we’ll be thoughtful about their participation and levels of participation. When we get later in the week, we’ll let the amount of that participation and the quality of it potentially be our guide in terms of their availability.”

Fitzpatrick has been out since suffering his injury midway through the Steelers’ Week 9 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars. He has missed three straight games. Damontae Kazee moved from strong safety to free safety to replace him, with Keanu Neal stepping up from a part-time role to a full-time role to replace Kazee in the first two games of Fitzpatrick’s absence.

But Neal was injured late in the Week 10 win over Green Bay, and was placed on the injured reserve list Saturday with a rib injury. He will miss at least the next three games.

Trenton Thompson was the third man up at strong safety, making his first career start against the Cleveland Browns. Elijah Riley played as the Dime defensive back, but he suffered a high ankle sprain against the Browns and was placed on IR this week. He will miss at least the next four games.

Adams has been replaced by rookie Keeanu Benton, with veteran backup Armand Watts drawing into the lineup.

Other than that, the Steelers appear to be mostly healthy entering the week.

“We have some other bumps and bruises associated with play,” Tomlin said. “Nothing of big-time significance to mention in this setting.”

STEELERS INJURY REPORT