4 reasons why Steelers fans should be worried about Minkah Fitzpatrick

Fitzpatrick has been nonexistent most of the time

I hate to have to say this, but it’s true: Minkah Fitzpatrick has been nonexistent for the most part this season. This is something we wouldn’t have dreamed of saying in 2019. It’s not just that he isn’t making plays on the ball, he’s rarely spotted or noticed on the field.

This is oftentimes a good thing when you are a defensive back, as some players who struggle in coverage (i.e. Terrell Edmunds) are more often targeted. However, Fitzpatrick has rarely shown up in any form. While he has been credited with 13 tackles over the first three games, they typically occur in the secondary after a receiver has caught the ball.

There are more than a handful of defensive players who have stood out in a big way so far for the Steelers this year, including T.J. Watt, Tyson Alualu, Bud Dupree, Mike Hilton, Stephon Tuitt, and Cameron Heyward, and Devin Bush. It’s just hard to believe that Fitzpatrick hasn’t been one of them.

I’m certainly not suggesting that Minkah won’t ever become the player we thought he was going to be or that his play and impact on this defense can’t turn around on a moment’s notice. However, I’d be lying if I said Fitzpatrick’s slow start to the 2020 season wasn’t at least a little bit concerning.