Fowler: OT Dylan Cook out for “several weeks” due to foot injury

The series of injuries to Pittsburgh Steelers offensive tackles continues. According to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler OT Dylan Cook is expected to be out for several weeks due to a foot injury.

It is unknown when Cook was injured. He did not play in Saturday's final game of the season against the Detroit Lions as third-team LT Devery Hamilton stepped into his second-team role. Hamilton struggled, allowing two sacks, including one that resulted in a fumble.

Cook was the second-team left tackle for most of training camp and also took over some snaps at right tackle later in the summer following OT Troy Fautanu's knee injury. Cook's play was solid and steady, although perhaps not the leap forward we expected after a strong summer in 2023. Our camp evaluation produced mixed results.

“Cook's camp wasn't bad. He's still athletic, uses his hands well and rarely has a bad call or a bad day, so maybe it's unfair to criticize him without his camp evaluation being clearly negative. I just thought it was a little more … next level. A little more 'That's the guy.' Pittsburgh also moved him less this year than last year. In fact, they didn't move anyone other than Broderick Jones until injuries forced them to. Cook spent most of camp at left tackle, playing only a little bit at right after Fautanu was injured, and not at guard at all after working there in late summer a year ago. Granted, Pittsburgh had a stronger and deeper line, especially along the interior, so there really weren't any opportunities to be flexible.”

We gave him a grade of C+.

Cook, a former college quarterback, signed with the Steelers in May 2023. Although he was considered unlikely to make the team, he impressed during training camp and the team's three preseason games, even holding his own at left guard in late summer. He made the 53-man roster but spent the year as a backup and did not play on offense.

Along with Dylan Cook, Fautanu's preseason was interrupted by a knee injury sustained in the opening game against the Houston Texans. He hopes to be back in Week 1 against the Atlanta Falcons. Sophomore Broderick Jones also dealt with “multiple” injuries, including one to his elbow, though he didn't actually miss any time. In addition to the tackles, C Nate Herbig was out for the year with a torn rotator cuff.

From the wording of Fowler's tweet, it sounds like Cook could be a candidate for the injured list. If so, the Steelers could put him there on Tuesday and designate him as a returnee. Under new NFL rules, teams can designate two players to the injured list/returnee without having to put them on the 53-man roster.

If Cook ends up on the injured list, second-year OL Spencer Anderson will surely be a top-53 prospect. Veteran C Ryan McCollum's chances of being selected as a backup to Herbig's replacement Zach Frazier also increase.