Steelers’ Minkah Fitzpatrick leaves with injury, Cameron Heyward in concussion protocol
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INDIANAPOLIS – Pittsburgh Steelers three-time All-Pro safety Minkah Fitzpatrick left Saturday’s game during the second quarter because of a knee injury and did not return.
Fitzpatrick was injured when he collided with teammate Patrick Peterson on an incomplete pass with 8 minutes, 42 seconds left in the quarter. Fitzpatrick remained on the field for several minutes in apparent pain while being attended to by training personnel.
After being evaluated in the medical tent and testing out his left knee by jogging and light exercise for several minutes, Fitzpatrick retreated to the locker room late in the second quarter. Initially classified by the team as questionable to return to the game, it was announced early during the third quarter that he would not return.
Combined with the ejection of Damontae Kazee the snap before Fitzpatrick’s injury, the Steelers were down to special-teams captain Miles Killebrew and recent practice-squad call-up Trenton Thompson as true safeties available the rest of the game. Peterson, though, played free safety most of the rest of Saturday’s contest.
Thompson briefly was out after suffering a “stinger” early during the third quarter. Initially labeled questionable to return, Thompson returned to the game on the ensuing special-teams snap.
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Heyward in protocol
Defensive co-captain Cameron Heyward entered into NFL concussion protocol after the game, a team spokesperson told media. Heyward’s ailment was not mentioned by coach Mike Tomlin during his postgame news conference. It was not immediately known on what play Heyward might have suffered an injury.
The Steelers’ starting outside linebackers — T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith — spent this past week in concussion protocol but were cleared within 72 hours before Saturday’s kickoff, and each played against the Colts.
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