AFC Injuries: Bengals, Steelers, and Browns ALL lost their BEST player in Week 2
- The Cleveland Browns will have to play without their leading running back for the remainder of the season
- The Pittsburgh Steelers put two starters on IR last week and lost their best defender on Monday
- The Cincinnati Bengals will have to choose whether to risk their QB1 health or play their QB2 for a while
- The Baltimore Ravens (2-0) are in sole posession of the AFC North no. 1 seed
Pittsburgh Steelers: S Minkah Fitzpatrick (chest)
On the other end of the field on Monday Night Football's AFC North clash, the Pittsburgh Steelers lost their own best player in three-time Pro Bowl safety Minkah Fitzpatrick.
This happened following the Steelers' announcement of the franchise having put fellow star and WR1 Diontae Johnson on IR, thus forcing him out for the next four games including the Week 5 matchup against the Baltimore Ravens.
Speaking after the game, Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin told reporters that Minkah Fitzpatrick is "being evaluated" at a hospital for a "chest injury," per Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.
#Steelers coach Mike Tomlin Tomlin tells reporters that DB Minkah Fitzpatrick is being evaluated at a local hospital for a chest injury.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) September 19, 2023
Fitzpatrick tackled Browns running back Jerome Ford preventing a 69-yard touchdown by the rusher in the third quarter of the game against Cleveland but he was unable to continue on the field following that action.
In the darkest of plot developments, Fitzpatrick was the player who injured Nick Chubb earlier in the game. He exited the intra-division Week 2 game logging a team-leading six tackles and defending two passes.
Fitzpatrick, same as Chubb, is one of the best players at his position across the NFL, and his numbers from 2022 speak for themselves. Fitz intercepted a league-leading six passes last year, tackled 96 foes, and defended 11 passes successfully.
Next. Ravens starter avoids Injured Reserve, won't get surgery. Ravens starter avoids Injured Reserve, won't get surgery. dark
The Steelers also placed DE Cameron Heyward on Injured Reserve before Week 2, and even if Fitzpatrick can return soon to the field they will miss Heyward and Johnson for the next three and four games respectively at the very least.
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