PITTSBURGH — Minkah Fitzpatrick was a fixture on the Pittsburgh Steelers ' defense for over five seasons. Those with the longest current tenures in black and gold still view the Miami Dolphins safety in the same high regard.
Fitzpatrick went down with a calf injury during the third quarter of Monday night's 28-15 Steelers win. The home team gathered around him in concern.
"This game, I've had the pleasure of playing with a lot of great players — and Minkah's one of them," Steelers mainstay Cam Heyward said afterward. "And he's a great friend of mine. A couple of us were in treatment last night, and we FaceTimed Minkah just to see how he was. You knew he was gonna be quiet going up to the game, but you knew this game was going to mean a lot to him.
"That's my brother. I'm always gonna check on him. I wish he was here. Mink's always been a guy I'd always wanna roll with."
The Steelers traded Fitzpatrick to the Dolphins this past offseason, netting versatile defensive back Jalen Ramsey and tight end Jonnu Smith in return. Ramsey sacked Miami signal-caller Tua Tagovailoa and Smith scored a 14-yard rushing touchdown in the Steelers' win.
Entering the matchup, Fitzpatrick wouldn't say much about going up against his former teammates.
"The only reason why it's a big week this week is because we got a game, and we got to win it," Fitzpatrick said.
Fitzpatrick played for the Steelers from 2019-24. He racked up 516 total tackles, 18 interceptions, four forced fumbles and four fumble recoveries and was named a first-team Associated Press All-Pro on three occasions.
This article originally appeared on Steelers Now : Steelers Leader Cam Heyward Praises Minkah Fitzpatrick: 'I Wish He Was Here'
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