(Pittsburgh) Pittsburgh Steelers safety Minkah Fitzpatrick said his season-ending hit to Cleveland Browns running back Nick Chubb was unfortunate, but not dirty.

Fitzpatrick dove at Chubb’s legs in hopes of stopping Chubb’s advance near the Steelers’ goal line early in the second quarter of a game that ended 26-22 in favor of the Pennsylvania team .

Steelers linebacker Cole Holcomb was clinging to Chubb’s back when Fitzpatrick hit him in the left leg. His leg remained anchored in the grass at Acrisure Stadium, while his body folded into that of the Steelers star safety.

Chubb will have to go under the knife to repair his injury and will have to undergo a long period of rehabilitation. Fitzpatrick called the injury “unfortunate” but defended himself against critics who say the hit was illegal.

“I’m a competitor, who jumps on the field and gives everything he has,” Fitzpatrick first mentioned Thursday. Yes, I like to rant at the opponent. I play on the edge of legality, sure, but I’m not a dirty player. I’m not going to sit here and try to defend myself. I know who I am. Chubb knows what kind of player I am. »

Fitzpatrick, who sustained a contusion to his torso in the footage, said he briefly spoke with Chubb on the field to tell him the hit was accidental, before the running back was escorted aboard. a cart heading to the locker room.

Fitzpatrick, who gives up 20 pounds to Chubb, added that he didn’t see that Holcomb was clinging to Chubb’s back when he slipped into the gap toward the Browns running back. He chose to dive toward Chubb’s legs because he believes that without it he would have been “crushed, and I probably would have suffered a concussion.”