Big three could play Sunday
Health status key for safety package
When Mike Tomlin said Minkah Fitzpatrick wanted to play against the Saints on Sunday, he wasn’t kidding. When Fitzpatrick was diagnosed with appendicitis Saturday afternoon, he lobbied Steelers coaches and doctors to postpone the surgery until after the game.
“I was trying to get them to take it out after the game, but they told me no,” Fitzpatrick said with a smile Wednesday morning.
Fitzpatrick had an appendectomy Saturday evening, but he watched in person Sunday afternoon at Acrisure Stadium when the Steelers beat the Saints. Fitzpatrick did not practice Wednesday afternoon, but Tomlin on Tuesday said he is “really optimistic” about his inclusion for Sunday’s game against the Bengals.
“I’m just taking it day by day,” Fitzpatrick said. “I’m not trying to rush it. I’m not going to mess with internal organs or anything like that. I’ll let it heal and take it day to day.”
The Steelers defense didn’t miss a beat without Fitzpatrick against the Saints. Damonte Kazee intercepted Andy Dalton in his Steelers debut and played every defensive snap in Fitzpatrick’s place. Kazee sounded just as confident as Tomlin that Fitzpatrick would return for the Bengals game.
If Fitzpatrick does return, that would mean the debut of the big nickel package the Steelers unveiled in training camp. Fitzpatrick, Kazee and Terrell Edmunds formed a three-safety subpackage that had the coaches excited in August.
All three safeties have extensive starting experience and give the coaches versatility in how they can defend.
“I’ve been waiting on it,” said Kazee, who signed with the Steelers in the spring after spending last season with the Cowboys. “I can’t wait. It’s going to look beautiful on Sunday. I’m telling you, it’s going to look beautiful.”
If Fitzpatrick suits up against the Bengals, it will be the first time all three safeties will play together in a regular season game. Kazee was placed on injured reserve after he fractured bones in his wrist and forearm in the final preseason game against the Lions.
There was some talk from defensive coordinator Teryl Austin immediately after Kazee was injured that the Steelers could still use their three-safety package, but they shelved it until Kazee returned to practice last week. It was set to debut against the Saints until Fitzpatrick fell ill on Saturday.
“Three safeties who know what they’re doing, it’s going to work out perfect,” Kazee said. “Minkah is a guy you need to make him roam. He’s a straight ball hawk. No concepts, no plays, move him around and let him make plays. It’s going to be beautiful.”
Fitzpatrick is probably the last Steelers player the Bengals want to see on Sunday. He gave quarterback Joe Burrow fits when the Steelers upset the defending AFC champions in the season opener.
Fitzpatrick returned an interception for a touchdown a little more than two minutes into the game, knocked out Bengals receiver Tee Higgins with a vicious hit, and led the Steelers with 14 tackles. He also blocked the extra point after a late Bengals touchdown that sent the game to overtime.
Chris Boswell eventually won the marathon game with a field goal in overtime, but it was Fitzpatrick’s dominating performance that stole the headlines in Week 1.
“We know when he comes back, he’s going to come back and do Minkah-like things,” Edmunds said.
The Steelers forced five turnovers in the first game against the Bengals, including four interceptions. They have only seven turnovers since then, but Fitzpatrick and Kazee have accounted for three of them. So why not get your best playmakers onto the field?
One of the reasons the Steelers were attracted to Kazee in free agency was his turnover production. In 50 career starts with the Falcons and Cowboys he had 13 interceptions and seven forced fumbles.
“I think it’s going to be really good,” Edmunds said. “We have three guys who are capable of starting in the NFL. When all three of us are on the field at the same time, we all can communicate, we all feel comfortable with each other, and we can all go out there and make plays together.”