Pittsburgh Steelers

Minkah Fitzpatrick brings competitive nature to Steelers camp

PITTSBURGH, PA - NOVEMBER 10: Minkah Fitzpatrick #39 of the Pittsburgh Steelers celebrates after an interception near the end of the game against the Los Angeles Rams on November 10, 2019 at Heinz Field. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)

PITTSBURGH — As he enters his second season in Pittsburgh, Minkah Fitzpatrick has yet to experience a true Steelers Training Camp. With the start of the NFL season less than three weeks away, the safety is pushing his teammates with both intensity as well as his highly competitive spirit.

"With our defense, the only time we get beat is when we mess up." 

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A strong statement from Fitzpatrick, but it's one he's ready to prove on the field this season. He says being able to do so starts with the work the team has been putting in at Heinz Field. 

“One thing that I really wanted to bring into this camp was that competitive nature,” said the safety. “I wanted to make it a really, really competitive environment where you weren’t going to be able to get away with going half speed or not giving somebody your all.”

That competitive nature? It's definitely noticeable by both his teammates and coaches. 

“He’s one of those guys that strives to get better every day,” said Steelers defensive backs coach Tom Bradle. “He’s not satisfied. He’s always looking for those little edges. You can watch how he goes about his day-to-day business, his work ethic when he’s on the field, when he’s off the field the way he conditions his body.”

"He's a smart player and his attributes are one of the best," added wide receiver James Washington. "You definitely have to be cognizant of where he is at in the middle of the field when you are running your routes."

Fitzpatrick added this training camp has been an "iron sharpens iron" type of environment. He says there's times guys can get a bit chippy, but says at the end of the day, it's because they're all competitors.

TRAINING CAMP NOTES

- David DeCastro practiced for the first time in pads Monday

- Ben Roethlisberger and JuJu Smith-Schuster both had the day off

- Bud Dupree had a wrap on his hand at the end of practice, and did individual work in the afternoon

- According to the pool report, rookie WR Chase Claypool continues to impress with the catches he was making.