Pittsburgh Steelers safety Minkah Fitzpatrick underwent an appendectomy on Saturday and will miss multiple weeks, according to a report by Adam Schefter of ESPN.
Fitzpatrick complained of discomfort during the Steelers’ Saturday walkthrough, and was diagnosed with appendicitis. The Steelers ruled him out of Sunday’s game against the New Orleans Saints.
Appendicitis is the inflation of the appendix, a small portion of the large intestine. An appendectomy involves the surgical removal of the appendix. The procedure does not typically have long-term impacts.
With Fitzpatrick’s appendicitis requiring surgery, he is now assured of missing multiple weeks. Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow had surgery to remove his appendix during the preseason and he missed three weeks.
In addition to the Steelers Week 10 game against the Saints, Fitzpatrick appears to be assured of missing the team’s Week 11 home game against the Cincinnati Bengals. The earliest he could plausibly return would be the Steelers’ Week 12 road trip against the Indianapolis Colts on Monday Night Football.
Veteran starter Damontae Kazee, signed to be the Steelers’ third safety, will be making his 2022 debut this Sunday after breaking his forearm in the preseason. Kazee is expected to fill in for Fitzpatrick in the starting lineup.
Second-year defensive back Tre Norwood and practice squad call-up Elijah Riley will provide depth.
A two-time All Pro at safety, Fitzpatrick has started 53 games for the Steelers since joining the club on a mid-season trade from the Miami Dolphins in 2019. This season, he is second on the Steelers with 45 tackles and second with six passes defended. He also has a team-high three interceptions, one of which he returned for a touchdown. Fitzpatrick also had a game-saving blocked extra point in the season opener against the Cincinnati Bengals.
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