Steelers’ Minkah Fitzpatrick Out vs. Colts After Suffering Knee Injury

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Pittsburgh Steelers safety Minkah Fitzpatrick will not return to Saturday’s game against the Indianapolis Colts.

Per ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Fitzpatrick suffered a knee injury, forcing him to be sidelined for at least the remainder of the matchup. Fitzpatrick had not recorded a tackle before his evening was ended with the injury.

The Steelers are looking for a big win over the Colts to keep their playoff hopes alive late in the season. At 7-6 on the year, Pittsburgh can’t afford a loss as their chances of reaching the postseason are already slim.

Without Fitzpatrick, who has the second-most tackles on the team, the task of defeating the Colts gets more difficult.

Fitzpatrick, a seventh-year player out of Alabama, is having another solid year in his fifth season with the Steelers. He’s notched 64 total tackles and has been a bright spot in a rocky season for Pittsburgh.

The injury is Fitzpatrick’s third of the season. He suffered a hamstring injury and a broken hand earlier this season, and has played in nine games this year.

The loss of Fitzpatrick is just another blow to the Steelers’ defense. Before his injury, Steelers’ safety Damontae Kazee was ejected for an unnecessary roughness call on a hit to Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. The loss of the two safeties leaves Pittsburgh with just Trenton Thompson and Miles Killebrew as its options at safety.

Following Saturday’s matchup with the Colts, the Steelers will take on the Cincinnati Bengals in a must-win game to keep their playoff hopes alive.

Fitzpatrick won’t be returning on Saturday, but the Steelers are hoping to have their top safety back on the field sooner rather that later.