Steelers Pro Bowler labeled as bounce-back candidate after, 'Not looking like himself' last season
When Minkah Fitzpatrick is healthy and playing his natural position, there is no better safety in the league than the man wearing #39 for the Pittsburgh Steelers. But after an injury-riddled 2023 campaign, it seems some are forgetting just how dominant he can be. PFF isn't however, labeling the All-Pro as Pittsburgh's bounce-back candidate in […]
When Minkah Fitzpatrick is healthy and playing his natural position, there is no better safety in the league than the man wearing #39 for the Pittsburgh Steelers.
But after an injury-riddled 2023 campaign, it seems some are forgetting just how dominant he can be.
PFF isn't however, labeling the All-Pro as Pittsburgh's bounce-back candidate in 2024:
A Big Year On Tap for Minkah
Following a spectacular 2022, Fitzpatrick wasn’t as good in 2023, accumulating a 73.3 overall grade and just a 67.9 coverage mark. The safety might not have looked like himself because of hamstring and knee problems.
When healthy, it’s hard to contest that Fitzpatrick is one of the best defensive backs in the entire league. This season gives Fitzpatrick a clean slate, and with it should follow another season of elite tackling and ball productivity in the Steelers’ back seven. – Bradley Locker, PFF
Before and in between suffering a hamstring and subsequent knee injury that forced Fitzpatrick to miss the most games of his career (7) the Steelers were also asking the Pro Bowler to play out of position.
At his best, Fitzpatrick is a true free safety. He roams the middle third of the gridiron and breaks on the ball like a centerfielder tracking down a fly ball.
But when other injuries and outright bad performances struck the rest of the Steelers secondary in 2023, Minkah had to play nickel and strong safety. He's not bad at the role, but when he's in his natural position, he's a six-interception, nearly 100-tackle All-Pro and Pro Bowler.
He knows that and aims to return what he calls 'Minkah Ball':
“Just let me play ball,” Fitzpatrick said at OTAs on Wednesday. “That’s it. Minkah ball…
'…As many great players as you could get in the field is going to help Minkah play Minkah ball."
Pittsburgh has done just that when it comes to player acquisition. If free agent acquisition DeShon Elliott is healthy, the revolving door at the safety position opposite of Minkah should be solved.
Joey Porter Jr. will be even better in 2024, and if trade acquisition Donte Jackson escapes the injury bug, he should be serviceable.
Add in the new signing of Cam Sutton who returns to his slot corner role and the secondary is already in much better shape than it was last year.
