Offensive tackle Dylan Cook made his NFL debut Sunday against the Baltimore Ravens. On Wednesday, he joined the Pittsburgh Steelers 53-man roster.
The Steelers announced signing Cook from their practice squad to their active roster. In a corresponding move, the team placed offensive tackle Calvin Anderson on injured reserve.
In another set of roster moves Wednesday, the Steelers released veteran running back Trey Sermon and signed offensive tackle David Sharpe to their practice squad.
Cook played 13 offensive snaps for the Steelers in Week 14. Cook entered the game when left tackle Andrus Peat suffered a concussion during the second half.
Peat was starting for a second consecutive game in place of injured Broderick Jones, who is on IR.
If Peat can’t play Monday night against the Miami Dolphins, Cook could make his first NFL start.
Dylan Cook Trending Toward First Steelers Start
With the game set for Monday night, head coach Mike Tomlin has an extra day to prepare his team for the Dolphins. That will give Peat more than an additional 24 hours to clear the league’s concussion protocol.
Tight end Darnell Washington and linebacker Malik Harrison are also in the NFL’s concussion protocol this week.
If Peat can’t receive clearance for Week 15, though, Cook appears to be Pittsburgh’s top option at left tackle.
Cook’s signing is likely an indication he will start if Peat doesn’t. The only left tackles on Pittsburgh’s current depth chart are Peat and Anderson, who had yet to be removed Wednesday afternoon. At right tackle, the Steelers don’t have a backup listed on the depth chart.
Cook went undrafted in the 2022 NFL Draft. He began his NFL career with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, spending most of his rookie campaign on the team’s practice squad.
After the Buccaneers cut Cook in May 2023, the tackle quickly joined the Steelers. Cook made the team’s roster in 2023 but didn’t appear in a single regular season game.
The past two seasons, Cook has mostly been on the Steelers practice squad. The 27-year-old made his NFL debut Sunday as a practice squad elevation.
A Montana native, Cook played two college seasons at Montana State-Northern and three years for Montana.
Steelers Move on From RB Trey Sermon Again for Tackle Depth
It’s been rather clear this season the Steelers value Sermon as a veteran running back and returner option. But the team elected to move on from the running back in favor of additional tackle depth.
This is the second time in the last month the Steelers have waived Sermon. After his last departure, the team brought him back on the practice squad two days later.
Sermon doesn’t have a touch on offense for Pittsburgh this season. He’s played just one offensive snap.
But he has returned two kickoffs for 51 yards. Sermon has also posted a tackle on special teams.
With Sharpe, the Steelers are adding an offensive tackle who has appeared in 46 NFL games. Sharpe also made six starts with the then Oakland Raiders and Washington Football Team from 2017-20.
Shape played for the Los Angeles Chargers during Week 6 this season.
Steelers Sign Potential New Starter, Release Veteran RB in Slew of Roster Moves