Inactive for all but one game this season, Andrus Peat could go from street clothes to starter Sunday against the Buffalo Bills. With Broderick Jones already ruled out to a neck injury, Peat could be next man up this weekend. While not confirmed, video from 93.7 The Fan showed Peat, No. 71, working at left tackle next to left guard Isaac Seumalo during individual drills.
Calvin Anderson has been the presumed backup left tackle and replaced Jones during the Bears game.
Reporters aren’t allowed to film competition and team portions of practice. Nor can they outright note who ran first-team (unless the information is provided by a player). It’s possible Peat and Anderson traded off reps and Anderson’s simply weren’t captured in that quick practice clip. Anderson could also be in line to receive first-team reps tomorrow.
During his Tuesday press conference, Mike Tomlin left the door open for Anderson or Peat to start. Based on current information, Peat might be getting the nod.
A former first round pick with 104 NFL starts, Peat was signed by Pittsburgh during training camp after the Steelers suffered summer injuries. Most of his work came at left guard, though he dabbled at left tackle in his first week with the team. A left-side player throughout his career, Peat’s last start at left tackle came in Week 18 of the 2023 season.
“Peat has done a good job,” OC Arthur Smith told reporters two weeks ago. “I got all the respect for AP. Played a lot of good football in this league. Helps when you have that kind of depth. Guy has got a lot of starts, played at a high level. He’s awesome behind the scenes.
Peat has played in one game this season, logging eight snaps at left guard in Week 10 against the Los Angeles Chargers. Seumalo sat out that game with a pec injury with Spencer Anderson replacing him. Still wanting to preserve Anderson’s role as a sixth offensive lineman, Peat subbed in at left guard when Anderson kicked out. NFL rules required Anderson to wait one play after he was done reporting eligible.
Pittsburgh may see Peat’s size and run blocking as an attractive reason to start him. Also, Anderson is more flexible as a backup, capable of playing left or right tackle. Peat has no right tackle background. That makes Anderson an ideal swing player and would create additional shuffling if Anderson started at left tackle and right tackle Troy Fautanu got hurt.
Without the headline drama like Aaron Rodgers’ wrist injury, the Steelers might not reveal the answer at left tackle until pre-game warmups Sunday afternoon. Whoever mans the job will have to protect either a still-healing Rodgers or backup in Mason Rudolph. That man will face a mixture of Gregory Rousseau and Joey Bosa, a pair of former first-round picks like Peat.