The Miami Dolphins’ upcoming matchup with the Pittsburgh Steelers on “Monday Night Football” was always going to carry extra meaning after the two teams pulled off a blockbuster trade deep into the offseason.

Cornerback Jalen Ramsey and tight end Jonnu Smith were sent to Pittsburgh, and safety Minkah Fitzpatrick is now back with the Dolphins, making his return as a visitor to Accrisure Stadium under the national spotlight.

Fitzpatrick, in a Tuesday web conference call with reporters, indicated he has no feelings one way or another toward the franchise he spent six seasons with before the sudden deal and downplayed going back to Pittsburgh to face the Steelers.

“The only reason why it’s a big week this week is because we have a game and we got to win it,” Fitzpatrick said.

With the Dolphins winning four consecutive games to get to 6-7, they have essentially made every game an essential elimination game, keeping themselves alive in playoff contention with each result. So, beyond the storylines, the matchup against the Steelers (7-6) carries weight on its own.

Early in Fitzpatrick’s return with Miami, the team that drafted him in the first round in 2018 before trading him to Pittsburgh during the 2019 season, there was a perception he was upset about the trade due to his silence both on social media and because he went nearly a month without speaking publicly in the media about the change.

When he finally broke silence early in training camp, he denied the notion.

“In no way, shape, or form was that an expression of frustration about coming back to Miami,” he said in late July.

It still appeared then like there was something there after he opened his first interview back with the Dolphins setting parameters for media members of no further questions on his former team beyond his opening statement.

He did, back then, voice some displeasure with the way his time in Pittsburgh ended, being traded.

“It was very unfortunate the way things ended (with the Steelers), but it’s a part of the business,” Fitzpatrick said in July.

Fast forward to December, and Fitzpatrick appears to have fit in quite well back with Miami. A locker room video released by the team following the Dolphins’ Nov. 30 win over the New Orleans Saints showed Fitzpatrick expressing appreciation for his teammates.

“There’s no other group I’d rather be doing this with,” he told Dolphins teammates.

He explained that moment Tuesday.

“The reason why I said that is because I’m extremely proud of the way this team has stuck together,” Fitzpatrick said. “We started off not the way we wanted to, but instead of pointing fingers and separating, we all leaned more into each other.

“We all took accountability. We all figured out what each individual player can do better. We just continued to fight, so that was kind of the reason for me saying that. I would much rather be part of a group that leans into each other during times of adversity than not.”

Indeed, the Dolphins have been 0-3, 1-6 and 2-7 this season before this surge that brings them into Monday night with a shot to get back to .500.

Has Fitzpatrick’s leadership helped push the team through the tough times?

“I don’t know,” he said. “That’s a question that you’d have to ask the guys. I try to be myself and be consistent every single day but also bring value in any way, shape or form.”

He certainly has defensive teammates who believe so.

“It’s been a great addition, for sure, in terms of just expertise, leadership,” outside linebacker Bradley Chubb said. “He’s not the most talkative guy, but on the field, he’s vocal and everything we need him to be in the communication with the linebackers when we are dropping (into coverage).”

This season, Fitzpatrick has 76 tackles, a strip-sack, two fumble recoveries, six pass breakups, an interception and another one returned the other way on a 2-point conversion for 2 points for Miami in the win against the Saints. He has been versatile, often lining up as a nickel cornerback in three-safety sets.

While he has been used in that new way, the Steelers have also begun using Ramsey as a safety in Pittsburgh. He has 68 tackles, two sacks and an interception while allowing a passer rating against of 112. Fitzpatrick’s is a much better 79.3.

As Darren Waller was the tight end Miami brought out of retirement the very next day after Smith was part of the deal, the trade parts could clash both when Fitzpatrick ends up covering Smith and when Ramsey is on Waller.

“I think that’s what makes this league exciting,” Waller said. “I feel like the best times I’ve had in the league are being able to be matched up against players of that caliber. People want to see big on big. It brings out the best in him, it brings out the best in me when there are matchups like that however often that happens in the game, so I’m really looking forward to it.”

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