Minkah Fitzpatrick fined for late hit against Ravens

Even though it happened six days and two games ago, the Week 11 Pittsburgh Steelers game against the Baltimore Ravens still falls out. As announced by the NFL on SaturdaySteelers FS Minkah Fitzpatrick was fined $11,255 for a late hit late in the first half.

LB Patrick Queen forced and recovered a fumble in the final minute of the first half, a huge play that allowed Pittsburgh to take a halftime lead. At the end of the play is when Fitzpatrick’s offense occurred where he ran over to the pile and mixed it up with the Ravens OG Patrick Mekari late.

The skirmish continued well after Queen ran into the end zone to celebrate. Fitzpatrick and Mekari were both penalized for unsportsmanlike conduct. But only Fitzpatrick was fined.

An aggressive moment from the normally quiet Fitzpatrick, but it fit with how the game was going. The first half of Sunday’s matchup felt like classic Steelers-Ravens. Intense and physical and pushed the limits of what the referees allowed. Pittsburgh’s offensive line led the way with C Zach Frazier, RG Mason McCormick and a more aggressive RT Broderick Jones scrapping with any Ravens defender they could get their hands on. CB Marlon Humphrey was the main combatant. They avoided all fines.

Even K Chris Boswell briefly entered the ring with some short jaws after making a field goal in the first half. Cooler heads prevailed in the second half, and Pittsburgh went on to win 18-16.

This was Fitzpatrick’s first fine of the season, giving him more of them than he has interceptions. He has gone nearly two years without an election. Although he has remained a strong tackler and trusted player in the midfield, he has not been able to make the splash he became known for in his first several seasons with the team.

Fitzpatrick wasn’t the only safety on the field to be fined. Baltimore Ravens SS Kyle Hamilton had his salary set at $11,255 for taunting early in the second quarter. It came when he caught an obstruction attempt by RB Najee Harris, and something he said during the scrimmage was apparently enough to pull the letter from the league. Hamilton was not penalized.