Steelers Get Significant Reinforcement on Offensive Line

PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Steelers finally got some good injury news when it comes to their beleaguered offensive line, as backup tackle Dylan Cook returned to practice on Thursday.

Cook has been on the team’s injured reserve list since roster-cut down day with a Lisfranc injury is his left foot. Cook’s return to practice opens up a 21-day window, during which he can be reinstated to the active roster at any time. If the 21 days pass and he remains on the IR, he must stay there for the rest of the season. Cook had already been designated to return from the IR, along with outside linebacker Jeremiah Moon. The team is allowed to reinstate a total of eight players from the injured reserve list over the course of the regular season.

Cook suffered the injury during the second week of preseason and tried to play through it before landing on the injured reserve list.

Cook, 26 is a 6-foot-6, 305-pound tackle from Butte, Montana in his second season with the Steelers and third in the NFL. He joined Pittsburgh last May after being released by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after his rookie season. Cook spent the entire 2023 season on the Steelers active roster as the No. 4 tackle, and was dressed for one game, but did not make an appearance. This season, he once again appeared set to enter the season as the fourth tackle behind Dan Moore Jr., Broderick Jones and Troy Fautanu.

Fautanu was lost for the season to a knee injury before the third game, meaning the free agent signing Calvin Anderson has been serving as the backup tackle. In addition to playing both tackle spots in training camp, Cook worked as the team’s jumbo tight end, as well, a role that he could reprise when he comes back.

In addition to Fautanu, center/guard Nate Herbig and guard James Daniels have also been lost to season-ending injuries. Center Zach Frazier is expected to miss the next two games with an ankle injury suffered against the Las Vegas Raiders. Spencer Anderson, Calvin Anderson and Max Scharping are currently the only healthy backups on the 53-man roster entering Sunday’s game.

The Steelers currently only have 52 players on their active roster and would not need to make another move to make Cook active for this week’s game.

Pittsburgh Steelers offensive tackle Dylan Cook during a preseason game on Aug. 9, 2024. — Ed Thompson / Steelers Now

PITTSBURGH STEELERS INJURY REPORT