Cleveland Browns running back Nick Chubb suffered a devastating knee injury during the club’s loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers on Monday night, knocking him out for the remainder of the season.
The injury occurred when Steelers safety Minkah Fitzpatrick tackled Chubb around his knees, which has led to some saying it was a dirty hit and labeling Fitzpatrick a dirty player entirely.
But Fitzpatrick is insisting he did not mean to injure Nick Chubb.
“It’s very unfortunate. It’s a tough, tough injury,” Fitzpatrick said, per ESPN.com. “Unfortunately, part of the game that we play. I know there’s people that (thought I) had ill will behind the tackle. It’s not the case whatsoever. I’m a guy that’s a competitor who’s going to go out there and play the game. I’m chippy. I’m edgy, of course, but I’m not a dirty player. I’m not going to sit here and defend my character. I know the type of player I am. Chubb knows the type of player I am. I’ve played against him a bunch in the past. Five years, two times a year. I love competing against him. He brings the best out of me, and I bring the best out of him.”
Fitzpatrick came over to the Steelers in a midseason trade with the Miami Dolphins in 2019. Since joining Pittsburgh, the University of Alabama product has made three trips to the Pro Bowl while also earning three First-Team All-Pro selections.
“No chance that I would ever try to purposefully injure somebody. Unfortunate event,” Fitzpatrick said. “We play a physical game. People get hurt, and you know, people sit behind a screen and tell me how I shoulda done it or what they would have done and they’ve never played the game. It’s a fast game. Things happen.”
Through the first two weeks of the season, Minkah Fitzpatrick has logged 10 tackles and two passes defended. Last year, he racked up 96 tackles, six interceptions, 11 passes defended and a defensive touchdown.
The Steelers are 1-1 and will play host to the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday night.
Meanwhile, the Browns have already signed Kareem Hunt to soften the blow. Cleveland is also 1-1 and will take on the Tennessee Titans this weekend.
