Minkah Fitzpatrick returns to Steelers practice

Minkah Fitzpatrick returned to Saint Vincent on Saturday, and on a limited basis he took part in practice for the first time during this Pittsburgh Steelers’ training camp.

The All-Pro safety had been absent for a week, last seen on campus July 28 for the second practice of camp. For those first two workouts, though, the 26-year-old Fitzpatrick was not participating in team drills and instead merely watching from behind the defense in 11-on-11 and seven-on-seven work. Fitzpatrick said Saturday he has no injury issues, and his absence from work those days was merely in anticipation of him needing to take his leave of absence.

Whereas Fitzpatrick was mostly a mere spectator for team work Saturday, he was part of a seven-on-seven red zone drill late in the session. Fitzpatrick also took part in individual drills early Saturday.

“It’s good to get back to it,” Fitzpatrick told reporters after practice. “Even if it’s only a few days, you definitely realize how much you love the game, how much you care about the game, but obviously you want to be there for family and for your people. It’s good to be back.”

Minkah Fitzpatrick back on campus and in his customary spot watching practice from way behind the defense pic.twitter.com/ijrKiJ8mlV

— Chris Adamski (@C_AdamskiTrib) August 5, 2023

Coach Mike Tomlin repeatedly said Fitzpatrick’s absence was excused, explaining it only as “a personal matter.” Saturday marked the ninth of 16 camp practices, and the Steelers’ first preseason game is Aug. 11 at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

“He’s back,” Tomlin said of Fitzpatrick, “and in a short period of time we will see him up and running at full capacity, I am sure.”

Tomlin said he was “not so definitive” in regards to the timetable for the Steelers’ No. 2 safety, Damontae Kazee. Kazee has been out for a week since he suffered an ankle injury during the third practice of camp. Kazee, too, was taking part in warmups for practice Saturday — but he did not do much more than light stretching.

In the stead of Fitzpatrick and Kazee and third safety veteran Keanu Neal (also out because of injury in recent days), Kenny Robinson and Tre Norwood have been among those taking first-team reps in practice.

A six-year veteran who was named AP first-team All-Pro in three of his first four seasons with the Steelers since he was acquired in a September 2019 trade, Fitzpatrick last summer signed a four-year $73.6 million contract extension that runs through 2026.

Fitzpatrick said he “definitely appreciates” that Tomlin was so understanding of his need to leave camp to attend to his personal matter.

“I said two words to him,” Fitzpatrick said, “and he knew what it was and that I had to leave. He told me, ‘Go. Go be there for your family, go do what you’ve got to do.’ And it wasn’t an issue at all. You definitely appreciate a coach and a program that takes care of family.”

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