It’s hard to believe that safety Minkah Fitzpatrick’s last interception came during Week 17 of the 2022 season.
Since joining the Steelers in 2019, Fitzpatrick has become synonymous with making splash plays. In his first three seasons with the team, he accumulated 11 interceptions, two of which he returned for touchdowns. In 2022, he set a career high with six interceptions, one of which he returned for a touchdown in Week 1 against the Cincinnati Bengals.
Things have unexpectedly dried up for the All-Pro safety. Last season, Fitzpatrick dealt with a multitude of injuries, and due to the lack of depth in the secondary, he played in the box for 12.2 snaps per game and 16% of snaps in the slot. With the additions of DeShon Elliott and cornerback Donte Jackson, Fitzpatrick has returned to his familiar role as a free safety. Even with this, he has yet to register an interception four weeks into the 2024 season.
One could assess that this is due to the lack of targets he has received. In four games, he has only been targeted 11 times. What should be concerning is the fact that he’s allowed 142 receiving yards on 9 completions and a passer rating of 149.1.
It should be noted that since the 2019 season, the team’s overall record is 11-4 when Fitzpatrick records at least one interception in a game. Though the team currently sits at 3-1, they are sorely missing his splash play element.
Considering that he has the second highest cap hit on the team, there is a sense of urgency for him to return to the form that made him one of the top defensive players in the NFL. More importantly, the team as a whole benefits when Fitzpatrick is at his best.
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