Steelers Pro Bowl Safety Minkah Fitzpatrick Shares How Critical Patrick Peterson Playing Safety Was

The Pittsburgh Steelers have had terrible injury luck on defense in the 2023 season. The unit had starters falling like flies. Linebackers Kwon Alexander and Cole Holcomb were lost to season-ending injuries in Weeks 9 and 10. Cameron Heyward missed significant time. At safety, the depth of the versatility was tested to the full extent. 

Three-time All-Pro Minkah Fitzpatrick missed seven games in 2023. He left the Week 8 contest against the Jacksonville Jaguars with a hamstring injury that derailed him until Week 13. He returned to play the Arizona Cardinals and New England Patriots before aggravating the injury against the Indianapolis Colts. Keanu Neal, also a starting safety, was placed on injured reserve in November and has not played since

Fitzpatrick spoke to the media on Friday before he returns from injury for Pittsburgh's playoff game against the Buffalo Bills on Monday. He spoke highly about how veteran teammate Patrick Peterson was able to fill in when the team was hurting at the safety position. 

"Pat [Peterson] did a lot of good things," he said. "It’s kind of rare for a guy to make that move late in the career, late in the season. He did a really great job communicating at a high level. Was always in the right position."

The 33-year-old Peterson touted his ability to possibly change positions in the offseason when he signed with the Steelers. Head Coach Mike Tomlin also floated the idea. The team experimented with it in training camp while Fitzpatrick was out. With an injury to Trenton Thompson, and Damontae Kazee suspended, the team called on Peterson to play safety. Peterson played some safety against the Colts after Kazee was thrown out of the game. But bigger things were coming.

With Fitzpatrick not ready to return from injury and little help at the position to be found on the active roster other than special teamers like Miles Killebrew and Elijah Riley, Pittsburgh decided to get creative. The team elevated veteran Eric Rowe from the practice squad to start against the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 16. Rowe had an interception. Peterson made two tackles and added a pass defended.  

The Steelers rolled with Rowe listed as their only safety on Pro Football Reference for crucial wins against the Seattle Seahawks and Baltimore Ravens. Peterson, still listed as a cornerback, played 100% of the snaps in all those games. 

Steelers' Fitzpatrick Praises Rowe's Ability To Step In 

Rowe may have jumped from the practice squad to the starting lineup for the team, but he is no stranger to the NFL. He's a two-time Super Bowl champion from his time with the New England Patriots and has also had stops with the Philadelphia Eagles and Miami Dolphins. He was a teammate of Fitzpatrick's briefly in 2019 before the deal that sent Fitzpatrick to Pittsburgh. Rowe had signed with the Steelers in late November when the injuries had started to pile up.

Fitzpatrick said that having Peterson back there gave the team the chance to see what they had in his former teammate. While Fitzpatrick has tried his hand at coaching while he was injured this season, he did not offer much of a scouting report.       

"It gave us a good look at Eric Rowe to see what he could do," he said. "He did a great job as well." 

Going into Monday night's playoff game, Defensive Coordinator Teryl Austin will have some big decisions to make in the secondary. Fitzpatrick is back, but the team has gone on a little run with Peterson playing a bunch at the position. Kazee is returning from his suspension, too. Rowe and Peterson have played well in a short stretch but have not faced the likes of Josh Allen. Sure, Jake Browing put together a nice run for the Bengals. Geno Smith and Tyler Huntley were Pro Bowl quarterbacks in 2023. None of them compare to the man in Buffalo who has finished in the top five for MVP voting twice in his six-year career.