Steelers Get Huge Injury News
PITTSBURGH — This is a big week for the Pittsburgh Steelers defense. After waiting for their All-Pro safety to simply return to practice, indicating a potential return, they jumped right to the finish line as Minkah Fitzpatrick is expected to be available in Week 13 against the Arizona Cardinals.
Fitzpatrick has been dealing with a hamstring injury for the last five weeks, missing the last four games for the Steelers. His light was on to return to practice this week, and for the first time since the injury, he took it – and didn’t hold back.
After two days of full participation, it’s believed Fitzpatrick will play against the Cardinals.
Now, the question is, how much will he play? What happens to Trenton Thompson, who has filled his role nicely for the Steelers the last two weeks? And will Pittsburgh hold anyone back to try and protect their health for the postseason?
This is how it should play out against Arizona.
Three reasons why Steelers have zero excuses for missing playoffs
The Steelers haven’t made the playoffs since the 2021 season, but there’s no reason why that dry streak should continue this year. Here are three reasons why Pittsburgh will get back to the postseason in 2023.
Remaining schedule
The Steelers (7-4) sit in second place in the AFC North and would be the No. 5 seed in the AFC if the playoffs were to begin today. That isn’t the case, but they shouldn’t leave the postseason seeding the rest of the regular season. Pittsburgh has a 78 percent chance to make the playoffs and there’s a good reason why.
The team has the seventh easiest remaining schedule in the NFL. Half of the Steelers’ six remaining opponents have losing records (2-10 Arizona Cardinals, 2-9 New England Patriots and 5-6 Cincinnati Bengals), which means they should finish with at least a 10-7 record and get back to the postseason.
Pickett’s historic streak
Second-year QB Kenny Pickett has certainly had his ups and downs to begin his NFL career but he is quietly on a historic streak for the franchise. Pickett hasn’t thrown an interception in 208 straight pass attempts, which is the longest streak in the team’s history.
The No. 20 overall pick in 2022 isn’t throwing a ton of touchdowns either with just 13 in 24 games played. But he won’t throw a costly interception, which is exactly what Pittsburgh needs to win some of its games. It hasn’t always been pretty to watch but it has proven to be a recipe for success and the team will likely continue trying to win that way.
(Mostly) healthy defense
The Steelers defense has seen a couple of season-ending injuries to linebackers Cole Holcomb and Kwon Alexander. But outside of those injuries, they seem to be getting healthy at the perfect time. All-Pro safety Minkah Fitzpatrick, who has missed the past four games with a groin injury, is on track to play in Pittsburgh’s Week 13 matchup against the Cardinals (2-10).
The return of Fitzpatrick would be huge for the defense, which is quietly allowing the fifth-least points per game (16.5) in the league. With Fitzpatrick back in the starting lineup, it will be the first time fans will be able to watch him, DT Cameron Heyward and linebackers T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith all playing together since Week 1. The big four have played just two series together all season, according to Steelers Now’s Nick Farabaugh.
