At this point, the Pittsburgh Steelers’ safety room looks quite depleted. On Monday, Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin already ruled out star Minkah Fitzpatrick for Week 16 against the Cincinnati Bengals. Fitzpatrick has been banged up all season through various different injuries, and Week 16 will mark his fifth missed game of the season. Even when he’s been on the field, he’s failed to provide his usual All-Pro impact.
Jordan Schofield / SteelerNation (X: @JSKO_PHOTO)
It's been a rough 2023 campaign for Steelers star Minkah Fitzpatrick, as he's dealt with several injuries and has underperformed when he's been on the field.
Additionally on Monday, it was announced that fellow starting safety Damontae Kazee is suspended for the rest of the season. He was ejected from the Week 15 loss to the Indianapolis Colts for a nasty hit on wideout Michael Pittman Jr. The collision led to his multi-game suspension, which seemed like a bit of an overreaction from the league. Now, veteran Eric Rowe has the chance to step in and start, and via Chris Adamski of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, he thought he was getting drafted to Pittsburgh nearly nine years ago.
"I thought I was going to get drafted here. But I guess Philly drafted me first, and however it worked out, it worked out."
The team signed Rowe to its practice squad just four weeks ago. He’s enjoyed a successful NFL career, which has included 56 total starts for three different teams. With the safety room the way it is now, the Steelers are left with minimal options in a must-win contest. Rowe was taken 47th overall in the 2015 NFL Draft by the Philadelphia Eagles, where he only spent the first year of his career before he was traded.
Steelers.com
Steelers' 2015 second-round cornerback Senquez Golson was a complete bust, as he never even appeared in a game due to injuries.
Nine picks later, the Steelers took cornerback Senquez Golson, who never even appeared in an NFL game. Injuries got the best of him unfortunately, and Rowe may have been an option for Pittsburgh if he falls to the 56th overall pick. He's not only a safety either, as the veteran has the versatility to move around and play some cornerback in sub packages.
Who Should The Steelers Start At Safety In Week 16?
With Kazee and Fitzpatrick out, the Steelers will need Rowe at safety. There are major question marks on the back end of the secondary for the foreseeable future, and the other safeties on the roster are Trenton Thompson and Miles Killebrew. Thompson suffered a stinger in the Week 15 loss, but he should be healthy for Saturday's divisional matchup.
He's been effective in his recent usage, as he's seen 205 defensive snaps over the team's last five contests. Elijah Riley was a name that was mentioned by Tomlin on Monday too, as he could return from injury in Week 16. He's been on the IR for a month with an ankle injury and would bring some much-needed depth. Riley was a surprise name on the initial 53-man roster earlier this season, but he earned it through a great summer.
Jordan Schofield / SteelerNation (X: @JSKO_PHOTO)
Steelers defensive back Elijah Riley was able to sneak his way onto the 53-man roster after an impressive training camp, and he could now help out a depleted safety room in Week 16.
Rowe remains on the practice squad at the moment, but it seems like it will only be a matter of time before he's elevated. Given his experience in the NFL, he's probably the team's best bet to insert into the starting lineup at safety. At this point, there's not much that can save the Steelers in the midst of their three-game losing streak. Suddenly, the postseason looks like a slim possibility.
How concerned are you for the team's depth at safety with Kazee and Fitzpatrick out? Do you think Rowe will be elevated to the active roster and into the starting lineup? What does this team need to do in order to turn things around in Week 16 against the Bengals? Share your thoughts in the comment section below, yinz!
#SteelerNation
