Steelers training camp is finally here — but sadly without fan-favorite safety Minkah Fitzpatrick, who was traded to the Dolphins almost one month ago. Several analysts pointed to a lack of splash plays and a potential decline as the reason for the move — but one defender isn’t a fan of that narrative.
FS Juan Thornhill, Fitzpatrick’s predicted replacement, defended the former Steelers safety at Wednesday’s training camp — pointing to similar issues he’s dealt with when offenses don’t throw in your direction.
“Minkah is a great player,” Thornhill told reporters on Wednesday. “If you have a great guy back there that can make a lot of plays on the ball, in that deep third, teams aren’t going to really try you back there. So that’s why a guy like Minkah — they say struggled a bit — he didn’t struggle. You just can’t get interceptions if the ball is not coming your way.”
Despite Fitzpatrick snagging just one interception in two seasons, his presence in stopping the deep ball was second to none — a role Thornhill is more than willing to earn as training camp treads on.
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