Following their Week 9 bye, the Pittsburgh Steelers will have additional depth on the offensive line, as offensive tackle Dylan Cook has been activated to the 53-man roster from the injured reserve list. According to Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston, Cook, who suffered a foot injury back in August, was initially placed on IR during final roster cuts to free up a spot but was eligible to return later in the season.
The Steelers opened Cook’s 21-day practice window on October 17, ahead of their Week 7 matchup with the New York Jets, allowing him to work on regaining fitness and timing. Though he didn’t participate in the game against the Jets, he made strides during practice, even achieving full participant status by the end of that week. Cook continued practicing in Week 8, preparing for Pittsburgh’s game against the New York Giants, but the team decided not to activate him for that game, possibly to ensure he was fully ready for game action.
Cook’s return comes at an essential time, as the Steelers have faced a series of injuries along their offensive line this season, making his presence valuable for the stretch run. His activation provides the Steelers with a stronger rotation and more options to manage health and performance across the line as they prepare for critical late-season games.