Mike Tomlin praises unexpected Steelers hero after breakout Monday night

There were plenty of pleasant surprises in the Pittsburgh Steelers’ 28-15 win over the Miami Dolphins on Monday night. Pittsburgh stopped Miami’s imposing rushing attack and found some consistency in its own running game, too, fueling the franchise’s 23rd-straight home win on Monday Night Football.

But one of the most pleasant surprises of all was the play of left tackle Dylan Cook, who made his first career start in Monday’s game. Cook, an undrafted free agent out of Montana in 2022, had just 13 total snaps in his career before lining up against the likes of Bradley Chubb in primetime.

While Aaron Rodgers was sacked three times in the contest, none came through Cook, who didn’t allow a single pressure on 29 pass protection snaps.

Mike Tomlin praises Dylan Cook for stepping up when the Steelers needed it

After the game, head coach Mike Tomlin gave Cook his flowers for a strong first impression.

“I definitely thought [his performance] was above the line, but it was also our job to assist him schematically. Both things happened,” Tomlin said. “But he’s another example of a guy upholding the standard. Man, we’ve absorbed some attrition, to say the least, at the position. But he was a part of a winning effort tonight, and he’s deserving of congratulations for that.”

Cook is effectively the fourth-string tackle behind Broderick Jones, Andrus Peat, and Calvin Anderson. The Steelers needed Cook to step up with so many injuries at one spot, and the 27-year-old made the most of his opportunities.

While Tomlin rightfully pointed out that the offense gave Cook plenty of help, he more than held his own. He handled Chubb one-on-one on Rodgers' first touchdown throw to Marquez Valdes-Scantling, carrying one of the league’s top pass rushers behind the pocket and out of the play.

Later, while fans were enthralled by Rodgers’ arm strength and DK Metcalf’s bulldozing run into the endzone on their touchdown connection, Cook once again was on an island against Chubb.

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It’s one game, but Cook’s performance caught the attention of Steelers fans. Of course, Peat missed this week with a concussion, so if he clears protocol, the Steelers might have a big decision to make ahead of next week.

Aidan Hutchinson and a starving Detroit Lions squad await the Steelers next week. If Cook’s number is called, it’d certainly be a tall task. But, based on his first start, Steelers fans can carry a bit more confidence in the position if Cook mans the left tackle spot again.