Alabama Crimson Tide defensive back Minkah Fitzpatrick takes a knee to the helmet and has to exit the Chick-Fil-A Peach Bowl shortly before halftime.
A little bit of a scary moment happened in the 2016 Chick-Fil-A Peach Bowl. On a Washington Huskies offensive possession, Alabama Crimson Tide defensive lineman Dalvin Tomlinson and Alabama defensive back Minkah Fitzpatrick were roughed up on a collision.
Fitzpatrick took the worst of it, as he had a knee strike him right in the helmet. He looked all sorts of woozy and had to be helped off the field shortly before halftime. Fitzpatrick had a stellar sophomore season for the Crimson Tide as a promising ball-hawker at the nickelback position in the Alabama secondary.
His ball skills have set him apart from many of his Alabama secondary teammates. He will return to Tuscaloosa as a true junior in 2017 and could be the next great defensive back to be groomed by Alabama head coach Nick Saban.
However with the way he took that knee to the head, it doesn’t look promising that he’ll return for the Crimson Tide in the National Semifinals. That means the Washington offense could have an easier time moving the football through the air.
While he did throw a pick-six to linebacker Ryan Anderson, Washington quarterback Jake Browning is a very accurate passer and could exploit a hole in the Alabama secondary. Fitzpatrick isn’t the lockdown corner in Saban’s scheme, but is the guy in the defensive backfield capable of picking off an errant Browning pass.
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Washington trails the Crimson Tide 17-7 at halftime. Do expect the Huskies to lean on their passing game to keep afloat in the Chick-Fil-A Peach Bowl. Maybe Washington wide receiver John Ross can find a seam and get a big gain now that Fitzpatrick is probably out for the game?