Steelers News: How Minkah Fitzpatrick can have a significant, and immediate, impact on the Steelers

The Pittsburgh Steelers are moving into Week 3 of the NFL regular season, and as the team prepares for the San Francisco 49ers, we continue to provide you with features, commentary and opinions to tide you over until the season starts!

Today in the black-and-gold links article we take a look at how recently acquired Minkah Fitzpatrick will have an immediate and significant impact on the defense.

Let’s get to the news:

• The Steelers traded a lot for Minkah Fitzpatrick, but fans should be excited about the impact he can make on the team, and right away.

Kevin Gorman: Minkah Fitzpatrick should have significant impact on Steelers secondary

By: Kevin Gorman, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Not long ago, the Pittsburgh Steelers trading a future first-round draft pick for a free safety on the same day they lost their franchise quarterback to season-ending surgery would have seemed like a case of misplaced priorities.

Seriously, who would have ever imagined the day would come when the Steelers would be more concerned with the severity of Sean Davis’ shoulder injury than replacing Ben Roethlisberger?

The Steelers are taking a great risk by showing so much confidence in quarterback Mason Rudolph after only one half of an NFL game, but there is potential for a resounding reward in acquiring Minkah Fitzpatrick.

The Steelers are 0-2 not so much because of the play of Roethlisberger — or even Rudolph — but rather a defense that had no answers as Tom Brady and Russell Wilson completed a combined 75% of their passes for 641 yards and six touchdowns without an interception.

To read the full article, click HERE (Free)

• Donte Moncrief can’t catch a cold, and Mike Tomlin is suggesting there could be a change at the wide receiver position.

With Donte Moncrief struggling, Mike Tomlin could make WR changes

By: Joe Rutter, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Through two games, wide receiver Donte Moncrief has more drops (five) than he does receptions (three). In fact, his drops are two fewer than his total receiving yards (seven).

Not quite the production the Pittsburgh Steelers were expecting when they signed Moncrief to a two-year, $9 million contract in free agency.

“I don’t know what to make of it,” coach Mike Tomlin said Tuesday. “I know we haven’t been able to depend on him to this point. He’s got some challenges and we have some challenges moving forward.”

Moncrief played 18 snaps in the Steelers’ 28-26 loss Sunday to Seattle. He didn’t see the field after his drop led to an interception on the Steelers’ first series of the second half. It was his only target of the game.

Moncrief dropped four passes in the opener at New England.

Asked whether Moncrief will get a chance to work through his challenges Sunday at San Francisco, Tomlin said, “We’ll see.”

To read the full article, click HERE (Free)

• Regardless what most fans might suggest, the Steelers are confident Ben Roethlisberger will return fully healthy in 2020.

Steelers confident Roethlisberger returns in 2020

By: Jeremy Fowler, ESPN

The Pittsburgh Steelers are confident Ben Roethlisberger can return in 2020.

Roethlisberger is scheduled to undergo season-ending right elbow surgery this week. The injury does not appear career-threatening.

Coach Mike Tomlin on Tuesday said the details of Roethlisberger’s injury will be confirmed post-surgery, based on what doctors find out in the process. Then he cited Roethlisberger’s statement that he plans to honor his three-year contract that takes him through the 2021 season.

”He fully intends to come back from his injury, and everything we’ve heard, we’re comfortable that’s a strong possibility,” Tomlin said.

To read the full article, click HERE (Free)

• One-on-one with Minkah Fitzpatrick

• Social Media Madness