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The Associated Press
Minkah Fitzpatrick can still make a big impact on Pittsburgh's defense even when he isn't generating big plays.
Fitzpatrick was once again voted as the top safety in the league by The Associated Press, repeating his No. 1 spot from the preseason.
A panel of nine AP Pro Football Writers ranked the top five players at safety, making their selections based on current status through Week 8. First-place votes were worth 10 points. Second through fifth-place votes were worth 5, 3, 2 and 1 points.
Fitzpatrick was the only player named on all nine ballots, getting eight first-place and one second-place vote. Derwin James was named on eight ballots and got one first-place vote and three seconds and came in second. Justin Simmons was third, Jevon Holland, fourth, and Jessie Bates, fifth.
Holland and Bates moved into the top five after being left out in the preseason, taking the spots from Kevin Byard and Budda Baker, who both were in others receiving votes.
Antoine Winfield Jr., Harrison Smith, Geno Stone, Talanoa Hufanga, Andre Cisco, Micah Hyde, Jordan Whitehead, Tyrann Mathieu, Jordan Poyer and Kameron Curl also got votes.
Watson practices
CLEVELAND -- Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson practiced Thursday for the second straight day and signs point to him starting Sunday against Arizona after missing most of the past month with a right shoulder injury.
Watson was the first Cleveland QB to take reps in passing drills, an indication the Browns (4-3) are preparing him to face the Cardinals (1-7).
His passes were tight, on target and thrown with similar velocity to what he displayed in Wednesday's workout, which was indoors. Watson looked just as good outside during the 20-minute period open to media members Thursday.
Watson has started just one of four games since initially injuring his throwing shoulder against Tennessee on Sept. 24.
The Browns will see how his shoulder responds to a heavy workload before making any decisions about Sunday.
Watson wasn't ready to proclaim his return to the field this weekend before he passed the eye test in practice.
"I'm not even sure, just following the medical protocols and we'll just go from there," Watson said. "It's part of the process. It's part of the protocols because you can't cannot throw and then just go out there to try to play a game. So it's just part of the process and we just take it day by day."
Watson suffered a rotator cuff strain in the Titans game when he took a shot to the back of his shoulder on a running play. He has missed three games entirely and played just 12 snaps after starting at Indianapolis on Oct. 22 and falling on his shoulder.