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Brooke Pryor, ESPN Employees Author
PITTSBURGH — The Steelers’ protection is in line for a major carry with the return of security Minkah Fitzpatrick for his or her wild-card recreation in opposition to the Payments on Sunday.
“I feel it is good anytime you get considered one of your greatest gamers again within the fold,” Steelers defensive coordinator Teryl Austin mentioned. “He is a significant communicator again there and does a number of issues for us, so I am excited to have him again.”
Fitzpatrick, who mentioned he was “feeling good” Thursday, practiced absolutely Wednesday for the primary time since injuring his knee in Week 15. Security Damontae Kazee can even be again on the sector after serving a three-game suspension for repeated violations of participant security guidelines. It is a increase for a protection that might be with out star pass-rusher T.J. Watt.
“Clearly we’re upset T.J.’s not on the market with us, however we nonetheless received a job to do and having most of our items again is massive for us,” Fitzpatrick mentioned Thursday. “We get to do extra, we get to be extra fluid, have chemistry. And so, I feel we’re in a very good place.”
Fitzpatrick was questionable for the regular-season finale in opposition to the Ravens every week in the past, however he ended up being inactive.
“I wasn’t 110 [percent], they usually type of decided to take a seat me down,” Fitzpatrick mentioned. “It’s a knee [injury]. I do not need me to go on the market and make it 10 occasions worse.
“I feel I may have performed. I at all times suppose that, however they made an government resolution to take a seat me down.”
Fitzpatrick, who was voted to the Professional Bowl, has solely performed in 10 video games this season, battling accidents. He injured a hamstring in opposition to the Jaguars, broke a hand in opposition to the Cardinals and injured a knee in opposition to the Colts. Although he was by no means positioned on injured reserve, Fitzpatrick missed 4 video games with the hamstring damage and three video games with the knee damage.
Depleted at security with Kazee’s suspension and accidents to their different prime three safeties, the Steelers utilized a mixture of Eric Rowe, who went unsigned for many of the season, and cornerback-turned-safety Patrick Peterson. The duo held up over the previous three video games and had been essential to the Steelers’ win streak. Rowe had an interception and a pressured fumble in that stretch, whereas Peterson had an interception of his personal.
“Pat did a number of good issues,” Fitzpatrick mentioned. “It’s uncommon for a man to make that transfer, late in his profession, within the season, however he did a very good job, was speaking at a excessive degree. He was at all times in the correct place. After which, undoubtedly gave us a very good have a look at Eric Rowe to see what he may do, and he did a terrific job as nicely.”
With the return of FItzpatrick and Kazee, the Steelers have a logjam of expertise within the secondary, however Austin anticipates utilizing all of the expertise at his disposal to sluggish Josh Allen and his receiving corps.
“I feel we’ll type of determine that out as we go by way of what we predict is greatest for this recreation,” Austin mentioned, “however I feel they’re all going to play, they’re going to all have a task. What that function is, we’ll have to attend and see that on Sunday.
“… I feel now we have 4 fairly good soccer gamers and ensuring that we get essentially the most out of them this week. I do not suppose it’ll be all protection or all blitz or no matter in simplistic phrases, however I simply suppose we received to determine a option to get these guys in one of the best positions to make performs as a result of they’ve all proven that they are able to making performs.”