Aug 13, 2022; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers safety Minkah Fitzpatrick (39) warms up before the game against the Seattle Seahawks at Acrisure Stadium. Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

Steelers safety Minkah Fitzpatrick: 'I came in wanting to make a statement'

By Clark Dalton | Last updated 9/14/22

Steelers safety Minkah Fitzpatrick earned AFC Defensive Player of the Week after a strong performance in Week 1 against the Bengals. Pittsburgh will need strong performances like that with linebacker TJ Watt out six weeks with a torn left pectoral injury, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter,

Watt, the reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year, is the leader on the defense of the Steelers, who forced five turnovers against the Bengals.

Fitzpatrick's production dipped last season. Entering 2022, he wanted to prove he's still an elite player.

“I came in wanting to make a statement," he told Ray Fittipaldo of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. "I felt like last year wasn’t a normal year for me.”

Against the defending AFC champion Bengals on Sunday, he returned an interception for a touchdown, blocked the potential winning extra point, and led the team in tackles with 14.

Minkah Fitzpatrick interception return for a touchdown pic.twitter.com/kzbp4AMrnQ
— Steelers Nation News (@SteelersNN) September 11, 2022

Steelers defensive tackle Cameron Heyward thinks some forgot how good Fitzpatrick can be when he’s on top of his game.

“Minkah is a complete player,” Heyward told Fittipaldo. “A lot of people sleep on Minkah and what he’s capable of doing, whether that’s being a box safety or being a ball hawk, or even blocking kicks. Minkah is a leader in that secondary.”

Now Fitzpatrick must be the leader of the Steelers' defense with Watt gone. Pittsburgh has tough tests ahead in Week 5 against the Bills and Week 6 against the Buccaneers.

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