Veteran Andrus Peat the surprise choice to start at left tackle for Steelers

He’s making his first start of the season in what will be only his second game action of 2025, and he’s doing so at a position he hasn’t started at during a regular-season game for almost two full years.

And he’s doing it all while tasked with protecting the blind side of an injury-compromised quarterback who turns 42 years old two days later.

To Andrus Peat, though, his status as a Pittsburgh Steelers spot starter at left tackle isn’t any different than any other assignment he’s taken on over 11 NFL seasons.

“I say you always want to keep your quarterback clean,” Peat said after practice Friday, “and you do your best to fight and try to give him an extra half a second or a second or whatever you can do and just finish your block.”

That job will take on extra importance for Peat in Sunday’s game against the Buffalo Bills because 21-year veteran quarterback Aaron Rodgers will be playing with a fracture in his left wrist that caused him to sit out the previous six quarters of Steelers action.

Peat, meanwhile, has repped mostly at guard since signing with the Steelers two weeks into training camp. The 32-year-old has been in uniform for only one game so far this season but was chosen by coach Mike Tomlin to step in for Broderick Jones (neck injury) as the starting left tackle for a game critical to the AFC playoff race.

“Definitely appreciate it,” Peat said not long after Tomlin told reporters Peat was starting Sunday. “It’s a chance to start and go out there and play for the Steelers, so it’s a great opportunity. I’m excited for it.

“I’m always ready to play or start. I’ve been a starter most of my career, so I always try to prepare like that. And keep myself in that mindset.”

Steelers notes: Andrus Peat prepared to step in at tackle; Pat Freiermuth honored https://t.co/km4wqlwNnd

— Tribune-Review Sports (@TribSports) November 27, 2025

The decision to deploy Peat with Jones out is a curious one because the Steelers have had Calvin Anderson in uniform all season as the “swing” backup tackle on game days. Peat has been designated as inactive for all but one game this season — and when he has been deployed, it was at guard.

Peat said he has mostly practiced at guard so far this season. Though he entered the league as a top tackle prospect (drafted by the New Orleans Saints 13^th overall in 2015), Peat has played more at guard throughout his career.

“He’s got the experience; he’s started hundreds of games in this league,” starting right tackle Troy Fautanu said of Peat, who has 104 starts and 127 games played in the NFL.

“I’ve learned a lot from him. I ask him a lot of questions, especially during games, because he’s always right there coming up to me after every drive.”

Peat acknowledges that conditioning is something he’s focused on. Peat has not played more than 27 offensive snaps in a game since Jan. 7, 2024, in what was his final game with the Saints.

“It’s tough to replicate that (game conditioning),” Peat said. “But you just go and don’t think about it and just do the extra stuff you can in practice and in your workouts and stuff to prepare.”