Steelers' Minkah Fitzpatrick Needs Mike Tomlin To Save Him From Himself

The Pittsburgh Steelers kicked off their training camp ahead of the 2024 season about a week and a half ago, and unfortunately there has already been a decent amount of injury news. Russell Wilson has still not fully practiced as he is dealing with a minor calf injury, Roman Wilson is fighting through a sprained ankle he suffered in practice, and other players have had some bumps and bruises as well. Minkah Fitzpatrick hasn't been getting a lot of reps, and fans have been worried he also was dealing with an undisclosed injury.

Fitzpatrick not fully practicing is particularly alarming because of how the 2023 season went for the safety. He never seemed to be fully healthy and only played in 10 games. Statistically, he had the worst season of his career as it was the first year he didn't record an interception. He is looking to bounce back in 2024, and he and Head Coach Mike Tomlin are doing their best to make sure that happens. Fitzpatrick spoke to the media after practice on Saturday and cleared the air on his limited reps.

"No, I'm healthy. Just year seven, I got a lot of miles. I'm blowing up the GPS every day when I'm practicing and Coach [Tomlin] is telling me, 'Mink, it's a marathon.' He says it all the time, he has to save me from me sometimes."

Players wear trackers during practice, which is the GPS Fitzpatrick is referring to. It can track how many miles a player runs, and other important metrics that can determine how hard an individual is being worked. Tomlin knows what he is going to get from Fitzpatrick, so overworking him in practice doesn't do the Steelers any good.

Fitzpatrick is one of the biggest leaders on the Steelers defense, and as he enters year seven, it's important he is on the field during the regular season. He and TJ Watt are some of the few players that don't necessarily need to practice, as they have nothing to prove and have been extremely consistent throughout their careers.

Pittsburgh's defense should be one of the best in the league during the 2024 season. They have done nothing but add talented players. The defense was loaded in 2023 as well, but injuries really held the group back. Multiple linebackers went down with season-ending injuries, and the safety group was also fairly decimated. By the end of the regular season, Pittsburgh has multiple practice squad players inserted into the lineup, and even Myles Jack who came out of retirement.

Fitzpatrick will be leading a revamped secondary with Donte Jackson and his new partner in crime DeShon Elliott. Joey Porter Jr. also returns, and the unit overall should be a lot better than it was in 2023, especially with undrafted rookie Beanie Bishop Jr. making noise at slot corner.

Steelers To Let Fitzpatrick Play 'Minkah Ball' During 2024 Season

Steelers Defensive Coordinator Teryl Austin has been very critical of himself for the way he used Fitzpatrick during the 2023 season. He has made multiple public statements admitting that he didn't use Fitzpatrick in the best way, and part of the reason Fitzpatrick didn't have a great year was because of the coach. It's rare to see coaches fall on their sword like this, but Austin swallowed his pride and took the blame.

It isn't entirely Austin's fault, Pittsburgh's defense was destroyed by injuries, which forced Fitzpatrick to play in some ways that he isn't use to. He played up in the box more often due to so many linebackers being injured, and he blitzed more than usual. Austin has said that Fitzpatrick is best when he is playing deep, so that is what he is going to have him do in 2024.

What do you think about Tomlin letting Fitzpatrick get some rest to prepare for the season? Let us know in the comments below!

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