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Report: Steelers safety Minkah Fitzpatrick positive for COVID-19
Pittsburgh Steelers free safety Minkah Fitzpatrick. Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

Report: Steelers safety Minkah Fitzpatrick positive for COVID-19

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger was unavailable for Sunday's game against the Detroit Lions that ended in a 16-16 tie after he reported experiencing COVID-19 symptoms and subsequently tested positive for the virus. 

Per ESPN's Kimberley Martin (h/t Brooke Pryor), Pittsburgh All-Pro safety Minkah Fitzpatrick has also tested positive for the coronavirus. Fitzpatrick's status for the upcoming "Sunday Night Football" game at the Los Angeles Chargers is up in the air. 

Roethlisberger said earlier this month he is fully vaccinated against COVID-19, meaning he could potentially be in the lineup this coming Sunday if he produces two negative tests 24 hours apart and also stays asymptomatic for 48 hours. Backup Mason Rudolph started in place of the future Hall of Famer on Sunday afternoon and completed 30-of-50 passes for 242 yards with a touchdown and an interception in the tie. 

ESPN did not say if Fitzpatrick is vaccinated. An unvaccinated player who tests positive for COVID-19 must isolate away from his team for a minimum of 10 days, per NFL protocols. 

Earlier in the day, NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported that Steelers All-Pro pass-rusher T.J. Watt is considered week-to-week because of the hip and knee injuries he suffered against the Lions. Cornerback Joe Haden is day-to-day with a foot injury. 

Zac Wassink

Zac Wassink is a longtime sports news writer and PFWA member who began his career in 2006 and has had his work featured on Yardbarker, MSN, Yahoo Sports and Bleacher Report. He is also a football and futbol aficionado who is probably yelling about Tottenham Hotspur at the moment and who chanted for Matt Harvey to start the ninth inning of Game 5 of the 2015 World Series at Citi Field. You can find him on X at @ZacWassink

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