OT Dylan Cook has been activated from IR, per the NFL transaction sheet.
His 21-day practice window was opened on Oct. 17, and the Steelers officially activated him from IR just 13 days later. He was dealing with a foot injury that was suffered at some point throughout the preseason. He was initially placed on IR on Aug. 27.
The Steelers had a bit of a scare in Week 8 when Dan Moore Jr. went down with an injury. That would have left the team in a tough spot on an offensive line that is already beaten up. Fortunately, Moore was able to return. Cook provides some much-needed depth as the swing tackle in case Moore or Broderick Jones go down in-game.
Moore was signed in May 2023 and has remained with the team ever since. He was an undrafted free agent after the 2022 NFL Draft and initially signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
While he has never logged a snap in the regular season, Cook played 40 snaps over the first two preseason games this year and 101 in the preseason last year. Pro Football Focus grades show steady improvement in each of his first three preseasons. With Troy Fautanu on IR, Cook is a welcome addition to the lineup.
In addition to Moore being activated, OLB Ade Ogundeji has cleared waivers. The Steelers now have the opportunity to sign him back to their practice squad. That is likely what will happen, but we will have to wait and see.
The Steelers already waived Ogundeji from the 53-man roster once before, and they signed him to the practice squad last time the day after he cleared waivers. It is possible we could see him added to the practice squad on Thursday.
