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Mike Tomlin: Steelers 'feel good' about Minkah Fitzpatrick's status following hospital trip for chest injury | TribLIVE.com
Steelers/NFL

Mike Tomlin: Steelers 'feel good' about Minkah Fitzpatrick's status following hospital trip for chest injury

Joe Rutter
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Chaz Palla | Tribune-Review
The Steelers’ Minkah Fitzpatrick dives for the Browns’ Nick Chubb in the first quarter Monday, Sept. 18, 2023, at Acrisure Stadium.

After losing two of their top players to injuries in the opening week of the season, the Pittsburgh Steelers watched All-Pro free safety Minkah Fitzpatrick exit with a chest injury in the third quarter of their 26-22 win Monday night against the Cleveland Browns.

Fitzpatrick, though, appears to have gotten a better fate than teammates Cameron Heyward and Diontae Johnson, both of whom were placed on injured reserve in the past week.

Fitzpatrick was taken to a hospital for “precautionary measures,” coach Mike Tomlin said Tuesday, but he was back at the team’s facility and could be active when the Steelers face the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 3.

“Based on the information I have today, they feel good about where he is,” Tomlin said. “We’ll see where the week leads us.”

Fitzpatrick left after diving to stop running back Jerome Ford short of the goal line on a 69-yard run. The injury happened with about 11 minutes left in the third quarter.

The Steelers used a combination of Damontae Kazee, Keanu Neal and Elijah Riley at the two safety spots after Fitzpatrick left the game. Kazee had a fumble recovery, and Riley sacked Deshaun Watson on Cleveland’s penultimate offensive play. Kazee and Neal each had six tackles.

“I liked their efforts,” Tomlin said. “I thought all the guys did a nice job of working to communicate and make the necessary plays. But when you replace a guy like Minkah, it’s not a one-man job. It’s a multiple-man job.”

Wide receiver Gunner Olszewski is in concussion protocol after sustaining a hit to the head on the only offensive snap he played. Inside linebacker Elandon Roberts was treated for a stinger. Although Roberts returned to the game, Tomlin said the linebacker lost strength that “usually comes back in a number of days.”

Joe Rutter is a TribLive reporter who has covered the Pittsburgh Steelers since the 2016 season. A graduate of Greensburg Salem High School and Point Park, he is in his fifth decade covering sports for the Trib. He can be reached at jrutter@triblive.com.

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Categories: Sports | Steelers/NFL
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