The Steelers will welcome back T.J. Watt Sunday against the Saints, but another star player on defense will miss the action.
Minkah Fitzpatrick will not play against the Saints Sunday due to appendicitis, the team announced Saturday afternoon. The star safety had a full week of practice and was not listed on any of the injury reports.
As part of Saturday's roster moves, Watt was activated from injured reserve and Elijah Riley was elevated from the practice squad in Fitzpatrick's stead since he will be inactive. To make room for Watt, the Steelers placed William Jackson III on IR. The earliest he can return to the active roster will be Week 14's home matchup against the Ravens.
Per source, Jackson will be able to return to action this season.
Fitzpatrick's absence is obviously a huge blow to a defense that was finally getting a chance to play altogether for the first time since Watt went down with a pectoral injury in the season opener. And, with Fitzpatrick undergoing an appendectomy, he will be out for multiple weeks while he works his body back from the surgery.
Damontae Kazee will likely fill in for Fitzpatrick on the back end of the defense, but the Steelers won't be able to deploy their ideal three-safety look with Kazee, Fitzpatrick and Terrell Edmunds. Once again, that'll have to wait.
