Steelers Could Get Active In Trade Market Amid New Injuries
In a loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday the Steelers didn’t just lose the game, a couple of key players departed with injuries. The slippery conditions in Pittsburgh caused a plethora of new speed bumps for this already rough road that the Steelers season has been.
Before we get into the article, make sure to check out NFL Shop! NFLShop.com has all of the best Pittsburgh Steelers fan gear!
Early in the first half Steelers All-Pro Safety Minkah Fitzpatrick fell to the ground in pain, grabbing what seemed to be his hamstring on a non-contact play. Fitzpatrick was almost instantly ruled out, leaving Damontae Kazee, Miles Killebrew, and Keanu Neal to fend for themselves. In a shocking turn of events, it didn’t go very well other than the gift-wrapped interception Kazee got on a mind-boggling throw by Trevor Lawrence.
Hopefully, Fitzpatrick won’t miss much time, but what if he does? He is the leader of that secondary. Fitzpatrick ties it all together. If he has to miss four or more weeks and go on the Injured Reserve, the Steelers would be in big trouble. Luckily, there could be some guys out there that are available for trade. While nobody could replace Fitzpatrick, getting a high-level guy to hold it down while Fitzpatrick is out shouldn’t be out of play for Steelers General Manager Omar Khan.
Justin Simmons
A veteran at this point in his NFL journey, Justin Simmons could be the victim of a Broncos fire sale and could be available come Tuesday’s deadline. Who knows what Denver would be asking for in return, but calling couldn’t hurt if you’re Khan.
Simmons was a third-round pick in the 2016 NFL Draft by the Broncos and has spent his whole career there. He’s about to turn 30 years old here in the next few weeks. Maybe he wants a fresh start, and Pittsburgh could be a match made in heaven for the Virginia native. Simmons has appeared in 108 NFL games, starting 98 of them. He’s hauled in 28 career interceptions and 411 career solo tackles. The Pro Bowler in 2020 could be a good match for the Steelers.
Jeremy Chinn
A younger option than Simmons, Jeremy Chinn has found his snap count depleting in Carolina this year. He appeared in 90-plus percent of the Panthers defensive snaps in the first three years of his career, but this year has found himself on the field just 52% of the time. The Panthers aren’t in a good position, having no first-round draft picks. They could be hungry for any draft capital and willing to part ways with Chinn.
Chinn has registered two interceptions in his 48 games with the Panthers along with 209 solo tackles. He was a second-round pick in the 2020 NFL draft and made the NFL’s All-Rookie Team the same year.
Reunion For The Steelers?
Another option to explore is bringing back the former Steeler Terrell Edmunds, who was just traded from the Eagles to the Titans as a part of the Kevin Byard trade. It’s not crazy to think a reunion could be in the works, bringing Edmunds back to Pittsburgh. Edmunds knows how things are done around the Steelers building and was solid before leaving for the other side of Pennsylvania in free agency. Surely Edmunds would be excited to come home, too.
Will the Steelers even need to make a move before the Tuesday deadline? Who knows. Hopefully, Fitzpatrick isn’t hurt as badly as we all believe and will return to the field soon. If not, the Steelers must stay ready to pounce on any opportunity to upgrade the secondary in the absence of its best player.
Get ready for the NFL trade deadline with BULLETPROOF coffee! Checkout BulletProof.com to find the best deal on your coffee!
Use code STADIUMRANT20 for a 20% discount at, Bulletproof Coffee, SwingJuice for your golf apparel needs, and Performix for protein and health supplements. If you're a fan of shotgunning beers, use code STADIUMRANT10 at Wild Man Drinking Company.
If you enjoyed this article, try Stadium Rant Original shows on our Youtube channel, and subscribe!