Steelers Give Dylan Cook Another Shot at Left Tackle as Injuries Mount
DETROIT - Dylan Cook wasn’t supposed to be in this position. But in the NFL, opportunity often knocks when you least expect it-and Cook just might be ready to answer the door again.
The Pittsburgh Steelers are giving the second-year tackle another start at left tackle this Sunday against the Detroit Lions. After stepping in last week against the Miami Dolphins in what was essentially an emergency fill-in, Cook held his own-and then some.
Head coach Mike Tomlin isn’t making any long-term declarations just yet, but he made it clear Cook earned another look.
“I don’t know if I’m ready to anoint anybody for the rest of the season,” Tomlin said. “That’s just the urgency in which we’re living right now.
It’s week-in and week-out. And certainly he did enough, and I’m thankful for his contributions in the construction of victory on Monday night.
He’ll start and play this weekend, and we’ll see where it leads us.”
That’s classic Tomlin-focused on the moment, not the headlines. But read between the lines, and it’s clear the Steelers liked what they saw.
Cook’s elevation to the starting lineup came after veteran lineman Andrus Peat suffered a concussion in Week 14 against the Ravens. Cook filled in mid-game in Baltimore and then got the nod for his first career start against Miami.
Despite the short notice, he didn’t just survive-he thrived. Matched up against Dolphins pass rusher Bradley Chubb, Cook didn’t allow a single pressure.
That’s not just solid play for a backup-it’s starter-level execution against a proven NFL edge rusher.
Now, he faces another challenge in Detroit, where he’ll likely see plenty of Marcus Davenport. The Lions’ defensive front brings a different kind of physicality, and this game will be another key test in Cook’s development. But if last week was any indication, he’s not backing down.
Cook’s journey to this moment has been anything but conventional. An undrafted free agent out of Montana, he spent his rookie season with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers before joining Pittsburgh in May 2023.
Since then, he’s been grinding-bouncing between the practice squad and active roster, waiting for a chance. That chance finally came on December 7, when he made his long-awaited NFL debut.
Now, with Broderick Jones and Calvin Anderson both sidelined long-term, Cook is in position to play a major role down the stretch. The Steelers don’t need him to be a star-they just need him to be steady. And if he can build on what he showed against Miami, Cook might just turn this short-term assignment into something more.
For a team still fighting for playoff position and trying to stabilize its offensive line, Cook’s emergence couldn’t come at a better time.