6 days after appendectomy, Steelers Minkah Fitzpatrick cleared to play in Sunday’s game

If T.J. Watt feels as if he can’t stand in the way of Minkah Fitzpatrick doing something, neither can a small vestigial organ at the junction of Fitzpatrick’s large and small intestines.

Six days after undergoing an emergency appendectomy, Fitzpatrick on Friday was not listed on the league-mandated status report released by the Pittsburgh Steelers for Sunday’s game against the Cincinnati Bengals. That signifies Fitzpatrick has been cleared to play after practicing fully on both Thursday and Friday.

“He’s a stubborn guy, so he kind of does what he wants and we all kind of all fall in line,” Watt said, tongue-in-cheek, Friday when asked about Fitzpatrick’s status. “I am happy that he is going to try to go.

“He’s a dynamic player for us.”

A two-time first-team All Pro who in July signed a contract that at the time made him the NFL’s highest-paid safety, Fitzpatrick did not play in this past Sunday’s win against the New Orleans Saints because he had his appendix surgically removed less than 24 hours prior.

But Fitzpatrick made it to Acrisure Stadium to watch the game Sunday, and he was in the Steelers’ facility Monday. Although he did not practice with the team Wednesday, Fitzpatrick did run beforehand. He was not limited in either of the next two days’ practices.

Minkah Fitzpatrick, presumably on his return form his appendectomy (but I’m not certain because I couldn’t hear above what was something of a battle royale pile-up of players in middle of the locker room) pic.twitter.com/NupkVHSaR0

— Chris Adamski (@C_AdamskiTrib) November 17, 2022

“He’s definitely back there (in the secondary) looking to pick something off, and even in the run game he shows up, so that’s a total safety,” Steelers linebacker Myles Jack said. “That’s a guy that you can’t really replicate. He’s a (heck) of a player.”

Despite missing two games (a knee injury kept him out of an October win against Tampa Bay), Fitzpatrick is third on the Steelers in overall tackles (45) and solo tackles (28) and has a team-high three interceptions. One of those was returned for a touchdown during the season-opening win at the Bengals.

When Ben Roethlisberger missed the 2006 season opener because of an appendectomy, he also only missed one game — but the timing of the surgery meant he played 15 days after the procedure. Fitzpatrick is playing on the eighth day after his appendix was removed.

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