It’s conventional wisdom that left tackle is the second- or third-most important position in football. So how, then, has it largely flown under the radar that the Pittsburgh Steelers blew through four left tackles in a three-game span?
They finished Sunday’s big divisional win off with their fourth-stringer at the crucial position — and with the third-stringer no guarantee to be available for the next game, it could be time for a first career start for that No. 4 left tackle that remains on the practice squad and made his NFL debut Sunday.
“It’s been a challenge,” coach Mike Tomlin said of the attrition at left tackle, “but that’s why we work hard at making sure we prepare the collective. It’s next-man-up for us, not only at that position but others.
“You get a chance to prove that over the course of the journey, and certainly, we’ve been challenged in that space in recent weeks.”
Former first-round pick Broderick Jones was rounding into form as this season progressed — that is, until a neck injury suffered during the Nov. 23 loss to the Chicago Bears landed him on injured reserve.
Veteran Calvin Anderson finished that game for the Steelers at left tackle — but 10 days later he suffered a significant knee injury during practice that likewise has the look of a season-ender.
Veteran Andrus Peat — who was repping in practice mostly at guard — started the past two Steelers games at left tackle… but he entered NFL concussion protocol during the second half of this past Sunday’s win at the Baltimore Ravens.
Peat’s status for Monday night’s game against the Miami Dolphins is in limbo. That could mean the Steelers have to start a game with Cook — a soon-to-be 28-year-old who made his NFL debut three days ago — as the man primarily tasked with protecting their 42-year-old quarterback’s blind side.
“You’re excited for a guy when he gets an opportunity to play,” Tomlin said of Cook, who played the final 13 offensive snaps in Baltimore. “He’s certainly worked hard and has been professional. I loved his mindset when he went in. Happy for him. Oftentimes, one man’s misfortune is another man’s opportunity. He may get another opportunity this week. We’ll see where the week leads us.”
A former NAIA quarterback who became an offensive tackle at the University of Montana, Cook spent most of his undrafted rookie season on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ practice squad. After a release and joining the Steelers in May 2023, he made a surprise run during training camp to earn a spot on the 53-man roster that year.
He dressed for two games but did not appear in either. A foot injury during last year’s training camp left him on IR for all of 2024. This preseason, he made the team but only as a practice-squader.
It took a unique series of events for Cook to get into the game Sunday.
“We went into an injury timeout,” Cook said of being told he had to play, “so I definitely had a couple of seconds to collect myself, go take some sets, get ready to go.
“I felt it was good, definitely ready for the moment. Been prepared, so it was good to see it finally come through.”
What was the 6-foot-6, 305-pound Cook telling himself during his first NFL regular-season action?
“‘Let’s play ball,’” he said, understated. “Nothing more to it.”
Cook might have to play ball again this week. If so, he will be tasked with protecting Aaron Rodgers from the rush of two-time Pro Bowl honoree Bradley Chubb, the Dolphins edge rusher who has 16½ sacks over his past 24 games played.
“The standard doesn’t drop, obviously, for him,” Steelers right tackle Troy Fautano said. “He knows that. He’s been around here for a couple of years, and he knows what he’s supposed to do.“
Even allowing that Peat could be cleared in time, the effects of the recent revolving door at left tackle have been mitigated by the sage presence of left guard Isaac Seumalo. A 10-year veteran, Seumalo entered the season with more NFL starts on his own than every other Steelers offensive lineman combined.
“He’s such a dawg,” Cook said. “He communicates. He almost over-communicates, so I just had to listen to what he said and play ball after that.”
Fautanu relayed that Seumalo repeatedly tells the younger and down-the-depth-chart linemen that “it’s not a matter of if, it’s a matter of when” their time will come.
“If Isaac says something,” Fautanu said with a smile about the outwardly reclusive Seumalo, “it’s probably important.”
What’s also important is protecting Rodgers. And over the nine quarters since Jones was injured — with three different backups manning left tackle — the Steelers have allowed only one sack.
“Can’t say enough about those guys,” Tomlin said. “We’ve largely kept Aaron clean. It’s a credit to those guys.”