The Steelers’ Week 1 depth chart says Dylan Cook is the starter at right tackle, but that doesn’t automatically make him the right answer for Sunday against the Atlanta Falcons.
Pittsburgh used the 21st overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft on Arizona State right tackle Max Iheanachor, and the rookie gave the team a reason to keep pushing him forward in the preseason finale. He missed nearly three weeks of practice in August with a neck/sholder injury, yet when he got back on the field, the size, power and foot quickness that made him such an intriguing pick were on display. Outside of one rough pass-protection rep, the showing was encouraging.
That matters because the matchup in front of Pittsburgh is about as friendly as it gets for a young tackle trying to find his footing.
The Falcons are dealing with major blows on the edge. Earlier in training camp, 2025 first-round pick Jalon Walker suffered an ACL injury that ended his 2026 campaign before it ever began. Then, just 10 days later, fellow 2025 first-rounder James Pearce was suspended for eight games for violating the NFL's personal conduct policy.
That leaves Atlanta leaning on Cameron Thomas and Brandon Dorlus as its Week 1 defensive ends. Thomas has bounced around the league with four teams since 2022 and has averaged just 1.9 sacks per season. Dorlus did post 8.5 sacks last year, but the 290-pound lineman is now being asked to work on the edge because of the absences of Walker and Pearce.
For a rookie tackle who is still raw and new to the game overall, there will be mistakes. That part is unavoidable. But Week 1 against this version of Atlanta is the kind of spot where the Steelers can let Iheanachor learn on the job without asking him to survive one of the league’s toughest pass-rush tests.
The bigger picture also points in that direction. Starting Cook does not really change the outlook for Pittsburgh, and the team already knows Iheanachor is the player expected to take over the job soon enough. Getting him on the field right away would give him valuable early-season reps and a chance to clean up the technical issues before the schedule gets deeper and, potentially, before the playoffs.
In other words, the Steelers have a clear opening. If they want the best long-term return, Week 1 looks like the time to put Max Iheanachor at right tackle and move forward.
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Atlanta has not offered an official update, and for Pittsburgh the bigger question is whether the quarterbacks status changes by kickoff. The Falcons have already named Tagovailoa their starter for the opener, with Cooper Rush next in line if needed, but until there is more clarity, the Steelers will be preparing for a game plan that could hinge on how that back issue responds. [Read more 🡒]