Pittsburgh Steelers tackle Calvin Anderson at OTAs on June 5, 2025. — Ed Thompson / Steelers Now
The Pittsburgh Steelers are planning to release veteran offensive tackle Calvin Anderson, according to Mike DeFeabo of The Athletic. They’ll save $2 million of his $2.415 cap hit in 2026.
The Steelers placed Anderson (knee) on injured reserve on Dec. 10 last year. Anderson suffered the knee injury during a practice.
Anderson first joined the Steelers in the middle of the 2024 season and he re-signed with the team in the 2025 offseason on a two-year deal. He appeared in four games in 2024 and nine last year. He made his biggest contribution for the team in 2024, when he appeared in 29 offensive snaps in the playoff game against the Baltimore Ravens after an injury to left tackle Dan Moore Jr.
Pittsburgh Steelers offensive tackle Calvin Anderson at practice on Oct. 10, 2024. — Ed Thompson / Steelers Now
The Steelers were already down one tackle when Anderson suffered the knee injury last season, as starting left tackle Broderick Jones sustained a season-ending neck injury against the Chicago Bears in Week 12.
Dylan Cook stepped up late in the season, and played pretty well.
Former Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin gave Cook high praise for his standout performance against Baltimore.
“You’re excited for a guy when he gets an opportunity to play. He certainly has worked hard and has been professional. I loved his mindset when he went in, happy for him,” Tomlin said. “He may get another opportunity this week, we’ll see where this week leads us.”
Cook could be an option moving forward, especially with the uncertainty of Jones’ future. Depth at offensive tackle is definitely a major need.
Steelers general manager Omar Khan must choose whether to pick up left tackle Jones’ fifth-year option by May 1. It sounds like Jones’ neck injury could play a factor in Khan considering whether to pickup the fifth-year option. The price tag for Jones’ fifth-year option will be $19.072 million.
“Obviously, he had a significant injury and we’re monitoring how he progresses,” Khan said Tuesday at the NFL Scouting Combine. “I know he’s working hard. It’s early in the process. That’s certainly something that we’re monitoring.”
Jones started 11 games at left tackle last season, taking over for Dan Moore Jr., who left to join the Tennessee Titans in free agency. Jones mainly played right tackle before that.
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