Regarding one of their essential defensive components, the Pittsburgh Steelers can exhale with relief. Minkah Fitzpatrick was taken to a nearby hospital after departing Monday’s final 26-22 victory over the Cleveland Browns due to a chest issue but has since been discharged, according to NFL Media.
Precautionary scans were performed on the star safety to check for what is thought to be a chest contusion. Given that the scans were negative, there is hope that Fitzpatrick will recover completely. The Steelers will now be on the road for games against the Raiders in Las Vegas in Week 4 and the Texans in Houston in Week 5, following a two-game homestand to start the season.
Initially shaken up while hitting Cleveland’s running back, Fitzpatrick appeared to sustain a lower-body injury. This occurred in the same play as Nick Chubb’s horrifying injury. Chubb had to be carried off the field as a result of Fitzpatrick’s direct hit during the play. No immediate injury diagnosis was made after Fitzpatrick exited the game. The Steelers did not originally classify him as injured despite the fact that he was visible on the sidelines.
As a result of Fitzpatrick’s intervention, Jerome Ford was unable to score a 70-yard touchdown that would have given the Browns the lead in the 3rd quarter. Ford eventually returned to the game. Just outside the goal line, Ford was stopped by the Steelers safety after being tripped up. Midway through the third quarter, Fitzpatrick had to leave the game once more due to a chest injury.
The game-changing play in this match had already been made by Fitzpatrick by that time. Fitzpatrick intercepted Deshaun Watson’s ball on the first play from scrimmage, putting it in Alex Highsmith’s hands where he finished the pick-six to put Pittsburgh in front right away. Six tackles, including five solo ones, and two pass breakups were all he had left in the game.