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All-pro safety Minkah Fitzpatrick of the Pittsburgh Steelers was given an unnecessary roughness penalty when he hit rookie wide receiver Adonai Mitchell of the Indianapolis Colts. Despite a difficult game for the Steelers defense, the penalty prolonged a drive that resulted in the Colts’ third touchdown.

“I mistook our game for a football game. “I’m not sure what we’re playing right now,” Fitzpatrick remarked following the contest. “I didn’t grow up playing this game or living this lifestyle. You cannot strike someone firmly.”

Joe Flacco, the backup quarterback for the Colts, converted on third-and-ten and moved into Steelers territory during the first defensive series following the team’s first touchdown. Flacco tried to hit Mitchell far down the left sideline on a second-and-10, but the pass was way out of reach. As soon as the ball touched down, Mitchell and Fitzpatrick met shoulder to shoulder as Fitzpatrick was moving at full speed.

After the play, there was no pushing or contact with either player’s helmet. Fitzpatrick was informed by the officials that he had struck an unarmed receiver. Players in this video play at full speed even though it is in slow motion.

With 14:43 remaining in the fourth quarter, the Colts had extended their advantage to 24-10 after two more third-and-long conversions.

The Steelers may have anticipated some dubious officiating going into the game. After three weeks of the season, the in-charge officiating crew had called the second-most penalties of any crew.

Fitzpatrick had nine total tackles in the game, including six solo stops against the Colts. Fitzpatrick finished 10th in the competition for Defensive Player of the Year with 124 total tackles in 2021 and 96 tackles in 2022.

Six penalties cost the Steelers 53 yards by the end of the game. The drive resulted in the Colts’ last touchdown of the game, which sealed the victory.