Tag: Minkah Fitzpatrick

Steelers, Bills have 8 former Dolphins wild-card matchup

Former Dolphins who will play in Steelers-Bills wild-card game.

The Miami Dolphins have been eliminated from the postseason following their 27-6 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs on Saturday night.

So, while Dolphins fans prepare for the offseason, there are a number of former Dolphins who are still playing for a Super Bowl championship that they can support.

On Monday, the Pittsburgh Steelers and Buffalo Bills are set to battle in a wild-card matchup of their own, and there are eight former Dolphins on their rosters and practice squads.

Here’s a look at which players who once donned the aqua and orange will play in this one:

Bills vs. Steelers: Injury updates for star defenders TJ Watt, Minkah Fitzpatrick

#Bills vs. #Steelers: Injury updates for star defenders TJ Watt, Minkah Fitzpatrick:

The Pittsburgh Steelers have one star on their defense trending in one way ahead of facing the Buffalo Bills in the upcoming 2023 Wild-Card round… and another big name heading in the other direction.

Starting with the bad news for the Steelers (10-7), Pittsburgh will be without TJ Watt against the Bills (11-5), according to Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin.

With 19 sacks, Watt is again the league’s sack leader for the third time four seasons. That’s a huge loss. He injured his knee in Pittsburgh’s season finale.

Clearly one of the NFL’s best defensive players, the pass rusher has caused havoc against Buffalo in his career with 2.5 sacks, nine QB hits, three tackles for loss, two passes defended and two forced fumbles in four games played.

On the flip side, there was optimism from Tomlin regarding All-Pro safety Minkah Fitzpatrick (knee) per Steelers Wire. Fitzpatrick has missed Pittsburgh’s last three games and could be back to travel up to Buffalo.

Time will tell… as will the injury reports.

Bills Wire will provide injury updates for both teams ahead of their Wild-Card matchup throughout the coming week.

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Steelers HC Mike Tomlin optimistic to have Minkah Fitzpatrick vs Bills

The Steelers hope to get Minkah Fitzpatrick back this week.

Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin addressed the media on Tuesday ahead of this week’s playoff game against the Buffalo Bills. In his press conference, it was a mix of good and bad news. Tomlin ruled out outside linebacker T.J. Watt this week with a knee injury but also indicated he’s optimistic that safety Minkah Fitzpatrick will be back after recovering from a knee injury of his own.

The Steelers have had a long list of issues at safety this season. Aside from Fitzpatrick’s injury, Keanu Neal is on IR and Damontae Kazee was suspended. This week it looks like Pittsburgh could get Fitzpatrick and Kazee back and not a moment too soon.

During their absences, the Steelers have gotten some solid production from Patrick Peterson and Eric Rowe. Rowe in particular has been great and could keep Kazee out of the starting lineup this week. The return of Fitzpatrick could also allow Peterson to go back to cornerback.

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Steelers S Damontae Kazee returns to work with team after suspension

The Steelers got safety Damontae Kazee back on Monday.

The Pittsburgh Steelers have been without strong safety Damontae Kazee for the past three games while he served a suspension imposed by the NFL. The suspension was a cumulative punishment for multiple borderline hits this season.

On Monday, Kazee returned to the team facilities and was back to work preparing for this week’s game. And just in time. Pittsburgh is working on prep to take on the Buffalo Bills in the Wild Card round of the playoffs and needs all hands on deck on defense. This is especially true after outside linebacker T.J. Watt went down with a knee injury on Saturday that will keep him out at least this week.

In another piece of good news about the safeties, Minkah Fitzpatrick said after Saturday’s win if the team made the playoffs he would play so look for Pittsburgh’s secondary to be in the best shape it has been in in over a month.

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Steelers S Minkah Fitzpatrick says he’ll play if Pittsburgh makes playoffs

The Steelers will have Minkah Fitzpatrick back if they make the playoffs.

It’s going to be a long day as the Pittsburgh Steelers and their fans sit around and wait to see their playoff fate. Pittsburgh beat the Baltimore Ravens on Saturday but now have to see how Sunday’s slate of games plays out to know if they will make the playoffs.

If the Steelers do make the playoffs, it’s going to be a mix of good news and bad news about who will be in the game. The Steelers lose outside linebacker T.J. Watt on Saturday and if the reports are true that he suffered a torn MCL, he will not be available no matter how deep the Steelers make it in the playoffs.

But there is a silver lining. After Saturday’s win over the Ravens, safety Minkah Fitzpatrick said that if Pittsburgh makes the playoffs, he will be available to return. Fitzpatrick has missed the last three games with a knee injury.

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Steelers S Minkah Fitzpatrick wins 2024 Bart Starr Award

Minkah Fitzpatrick is a true leader for the Steelers.

On Friday, the Pittsburgh Steelers announced safety Minkah Fitzpatrick had won the 2024 Bart Starr Award for displaying outstanding character, integrity and leadership on and off the field.

“It’s a huge honor,” said Fitzpatrick. “I am grateful for you guys to select me. I appreciate it very much.”

“That my peers selected me means a lot. I say all the time the better man you are, the better ball player you will be. I feel like that’s a phrase not a lot of people really believe in across the league.”

“The fact that people see a good man in me means a lot. I am always trying to be a better man, better brother, better son. The fact that people recognize that is a huge honor.”

Fitzpatrick has quickly developed into the best all-around safety in the NFL. But it has been his leadership that stood out this season when he called out his own team for playing flat and getting beat. This season hasn’t gone according to play for Fitzpatrick thanks to injuries but he remains an integral part of the team.

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Steelers vs. Ravens: 3 defenders questionable for 2023 season finale

Three Steelers defenders are questionable heading into their 2023 season finale showdown with the Ravens.

Three Pittsburgh Steelers defenders are questionable heading into their 2023 season finale matchup with the Baltimore Ravens.

Safeties Minkah Fitzpatrick (knee) and Trenton Thompson (neck), along with linebacker Elandon Roberts (pectoral), were all limited in their final practice of the week, and their statuses are in doubt for Saturday’s game.

Fitzpatrick and Thompson sustained injuries in Pittsburgh’s Week 15 loss to the Colts. Fitzpatrick had just returned two weeks prior after being sidelined four games with a hamstring injury.

Fighting through multiple injuries of his own throughout the season, Roberts was the only inside linebacker left standing after the unit rebuilt in the offseason crumbled around him. He told reporters today that he plans to play.

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Steelers land 2 defenders on Pro Bowl roster

Pittsburgh didn’t get many players named to the 2024 Pro Bowl games.

The NFL released the rosters for the 2024 Pro Bowl games on Wednesday and two members of the Pittsburgh Steelers defense made the cut. Outside linebacker T.J. Watt and safety Minkah Fitzpatrick were both voted onto the team.

For Watt, this is his sixth Pro Bowl in seven NFL seasons as he once again leads the NFL in sacks. Watt joins Los Angeles Chargers Khalil Mack and the Jacksonville Jaguars Josh Allen as the three representatives in the AFC.

Fitzpatrick was named to his fourth Pro Bowl. This is despite missing multiple games this season with a knee injury. We understand that often times the Pro Bowl vote is more about name recognition but we are happy to see Fitzpatrick’s name on the list regardless of the reason.

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The weirdest Pro Bowl selections and snubs for the 2024 team

The 2024 Pro Bowl teams have been announced, and here are the oddest selections and snubs.

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The Pro Bowl is not a serious endeavor. We know that because at the actual Pro Bowl as it’s played now, there isn’t any actual football — it’s more like Field Day in elementary school. Not that there’s anything wrong with that, but when it comes to the voting process — 1-3 from the fans, 1/3 from the coaches, and 1/3 from the players — it’s pretty frivolous. There are lifetime achievement awards which have little to do with the present, regionally-stacked oddities, and face-value selections which, again, have nothing to do with present performance.

Still, players get hefty contract incentives from Pro Bowl selections, so you know that players, agents, and teams take this seriously to a point. Now that the rosters for the 2024 Pro Bowl have been announced, here are the weirdest and worst selections.

Steelers vs. Ravens injury report: Minkah Fitzpatrick, Elandon Roberts return to practice

Minkah Fitzpatrick, Elandon Roberts returned to practice on Wednesday.

The Pittsburgh Steelers got some great news on the injury front as two key defenders, safety Minkah Fitzpatrick and linebacker Elandon Roberts, returned to practice on Wednesday.

It was Fitzpatrick’s first practice since injuring his knee in Pittsburgh’s Week 15 loss to the Colts. Roberts missed Week 16 with a pectoral injury.

Here are the nine players who participated in the first practice of Ravens Week: