Steelers Now
PITTSBURGH — One by one, 25 footballs screamed toward Minkah Fitzpatrick. From five yards away, the Pittsburgh Steelers’ safety effortlessly stabbed each one — even the last handful, which were fired at him as DeShon Elliott softly whacked the back of his helmet with his cleats.
Fitzpatrick wasn’t required to be at the team’s Tuesday OTA practice, just as he’d been at each of the three last week. He surely didn’t have to be taking extra reps from the JUGS machine at the suddenly toasty, sunny UPMC Rooney Sports Complex.
“I dropped one today,” Fitzpatrick said, referring to a bobbled interception during the team’s “seven shots” period. “Luckily, I made up for it, but I dropped one earlier on today. So it was just getting extra.”
Fitzpatrick squeezed the next ball thrown his way after the miscue, saving himself from coaches’ grumbles. Since tying for the NFL lead with six interceptions in 2022, Fitzpatrick has notched just one interception. He admitted last season wasn’t his most impactful showing in January.
#Steelers safety Minkah Fitzpatrick takes some extra reps on the JUGS machine after Tuesday’s OTA practice. Said afterward that he stayed to make up for a dropped interception during seven shots. #HereWeGo pic.twitter.com/SPfw0HZRPq
— Brendan Howe (@bybrendanhowe) June 3, 2025
The Steelers are hoping for more grabs like the one he had in the mimicked situation.
“I mean, I think it’s an important play because we’re on the 7-yard line, say it’s fourth down. We’re taking points off of the board,” Fitzpatrick said. “Not just four points, we’re taking off seven points away from the team. Whether it’s spring or in a game, it’s a valuable play. … It’s ‘seven shots.’ It’s good on good. It’s how we start every day during OTAs, so it’s highly competitive.
“We ain’t betting nothing on it besides egos or pride.”
Even though he’s entering his eighth professional season and has staying power with the team, the three-time first-team Associated Press All-Pro has been a regular attendee at the voluntary practices and a presence for younger guys, such as undrafted rookie Sebastian Castro, to learn from.
“We’re working,” Fitzpatrick said. “At the end of the day, I think … what gets you to be a better football player is playing football. And it’s hard to simulate that, whether you’re in Florida, Vegas, California. And, right now, we’re playing football, whether it’s indy, whether it’s ‘seven shots,’ or in 7-on-7. I mean, we’re getting better.”
This article originally appeared on Steelers Now: Minkah Fitzpatrick Has to Regain Form to Thrive for Steelers
