Steelers' Mike Hilton, Minkah Fitzpatrick fined for personal fouls called against Broncos
Two Pittsburgh Steelers defensive players are lighter in the wallet after being fined by the NFL on Saturday for penalties they incurred in Week 2 against the Denver Broncos.
The plays happened on subsequent third-quarter drives in the Steelers’ 26-21 victory at Heinz Field.
Safety Minkah Fitzpatrick was fined $11,619 for a horse collar tackle on Broncos tight end Noah Fant that led to a field goal, cutting the Steelers’ lead to 17-6.
Slot cornerback Mike Hilton was fined $15,000 for a roughing-the-passer penalty on the next drive. This play drew a 15-yard penalty, and the Broncos scored on the next play, a 20-yard pass from Jeff Driskel to Fant (and 2-point conversion) that reduced the Steelers’ lead to 17-14.
Hilton’s penalty was the only blemish on a day in which he led the Steelers with eight tackles, registered his second sack of the season, had two tackles for loss, two quarterback hits, a pass breakup and fumble recovery. Fitzpatrick had six tackles.
Fitzpatrick was fined twice last year after joining the Steelers in a Week 3 trade, per spotrac.com. He was fined $10,527 for taunting in Week 10 and $3,507 for fighting in the wake of the Miles Garrett-Mason Rudolph helmet incident in Week 11. Hilton also was docked $3,507 for fighting in that game.
Joe Rutter is a TribLive reporter who has covered the Pittsburgh Steelers since the 2016 season. A graduate of Greensburg Salem High School and Point Park, he is in his fifth decade covering sports for the Trib. He can be reached at jrutter@triblive.com.
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