If there is one silver lining to the injurious season Pittsburgh Steelers S Minkah Fitzpatrick has endured—aside from the fact that they have still won without him—it is the fact that it managed to open a door for CB Patrick Peterson.
Already 33 years old and in his 13th NFL season, Peterson, formerly an All-Pro cornerback, got his first serious look at safety during the final three weeks of the regular season. Fitzpatrick suffered a knee injury in the previous game. Then came an injury to Trenton Thompson and a suspension for Damontae Kazee. The team was forced to plug Peterson in the back end.