Minkah Fitzpatrick returns to Steelers' practice 5 days after having appendix removed

On the day he turned 26, Minkah Fitzpatrick celebrated his birthday by practicing with his Pittsburgh Steelers teammates.

It wasn’t just any ordinary practice for the two-time All-Pro free safety. It was his first since undergoing an appendectomy five days earlier.

After practice — he was a full participant — Fitzpatrick said he felt good but added it’s too early to know whether he can play against the Cincinnati Bengals this weekend at Acrisure Stadium.

“We will find out Sunday,” he said. “It’s something I have to take day to day, something I definitely don’t want to rush back from. We’ll see what Sunday looks like, how it feels.”

It was a week ago that Fitzpatrick began feeling discomfort in his right side. He described it as feeling “full” in his lower stomach. He practiced Friday and went through the walk-through Saturday morning without any issue.

“The only reason I told the trainers (about it) was I couldn’t use the bathroom,” Fitzpatrick said. “They gave me medicine, and I still felt the pain. They said I should get a scan, and I was on the operating table 20 minutes later.”

Until Saturday, Fitzpatrick didn’t have any reason to think appendicitis was the diagnosis.

“I thought it was bubble guts, gas, whatever,” he said.

Despite being ruled out from playing the next day against New Orleans, Fitzpatrick showed up at Acrisure Stadium and watched from the sideline.

“I was feeling it, but I wanted to go out and support my teammates,” he said.

Returning to play in a game eight days after having his appendix removed — even if it was done laparoscopically — would seem to be a generous timetable considering doctors had to cut through muscle to get into his stomach.

“You want to make sure that’s healed properly before you get out there and go full speed,” he said. “It’s the twisting, turning and stretching up and down that aggravates it.”

Coach Mike Tomlin will have the final say on whether Fitzpatrick returns against Cincinnati, a team he dominated in the season opener when he returned an interception for a touchdown in the first quarter and blocked a potential winning extra point at the end of the fourth.

“He’s just telling me to be smart, to be honest with myself,” Fitzpatrick said. “He told me if I can’t play 110% then there is no point being out there and hurting myself and not giving my full self.”