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Minkah Fitzpatrick injury woes may finally end in Week 4

Dustin Judge
Minkah Fitzpatrick, then with the Steelers, and Browns running back Nick Chubb during a 2019 game; the Minkah Fitzpatrick injury has sidelined him with the Jets

The Minkah Fitzpatrick injury that has sidelined the New York Jets safety since Sept. 13 appears to be behind him. Fitzpatrick took part fully in practice Thursday and is on track to play Sunday, Oct. 4, against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field, The Associated Press reported. Kickoff is 1 p.m. ET on FOX.

Coach Aaron Glenn said Wednesday “there’s a really good chance” Fitzpatrick plays. The Minkah Fitzpatrick injury kept him out of practice entirely for weeks before he was limited Wednesday and upgraded Thursday, according to the AP. Yahoo Sports’ rundown of Wednesday’s injury reports also listed him as expected to play.

Six snaps into his Jets debut

The Minkah Fitzpatrick injury came early in the season opener at Tennessee, a 23-10 Jets win. He went down defending Carnell Tate along the sideline on a Cam Ward scramble and reached for his left groin. He said he had been studying Titans film since June. “I tried my best to finish the game, but as a DB, with a groin, it’s kind of tough,” Fitzpatrick said Thursday.

He credited the team’s medical staff for the recovery. “We have a great training staff here that’s helped me get back healthy,” he said. “It’s a part of the game, but I’m just happy to be out here trying to get back.”

How the Jets covered for the Minkah Fitzpatrick injury

Andre Cisco, who re-signed with the Jets in March, has started next to Dane Belton and played well, the AP noted. New York still ranks second in the NFL in total yards allowed.

Defensive coordinator Brian Duker welcomed the reinforcement. “Certainly excited about Minkah coming back,” Duker said. “Obviously showed kind of who he is as a player throughout his career, so obviously, a good player, happy to always have those in the lineup.”

A ballhawk for a team still waiting on an interception

Miami sent Fitzpatrick to New York in March for a seventh-round pick, as Total Apex Sports reported when the Jets acquired the veteran safety, and the Jets then gave the 29-year-old a three-year, $40 million extension. He is a three-time All-Pro and five-time Pro Bowl pick with 21 career interceptions, four of them returned for touchdowns, and 60 passes defensed in eight seasons, per the AP.

That track record is a big part of why he is in green, and why the Minkah Fitzpatrick injury stung. The Jets have gone 20 straight games without an interception, an NFL record that began last season, when they became the first team to finish a full season without one. Asked about ending the drought, Fitzpatrick said, “It would be very nice. Very sweet.”

Next up: Week 4 at Chicago

The Jets (1-2) are coming off a 31-24 loss at Detroit, the second straight game the Minkah Fitzpatrick injury cost him. Running back Breece Hall (quadriceps) is expected to miss the game, Yahoo Sports reported. For more on the league, visit the Total Apex Sports NFL page.

Reporting from The Associated Press and Yahoo Sports contributed to this story. Schedule: ESPN.

Featured image: Photo: Erik Drost / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0)

Dustin Judge is the Founder and CEO of Total Apex Media, bringing more than 20 years of writing and editorial experience to the company's growing network of digital publications. He specializes in sports, sports betting, fantasy sports, and digital publishing, with a focus on producing accurate, timely, and engaging content for readers. Dustin oversees editorial strategy, content development, and publishing operations across Total Apex Media while remaining actively involved in sports, betting, and fantasy sports coverage.