For the first time in five years, Calvin Anderson began the 2024 regular season not on an NFL roster.

He ended the season as the Steelers left tackle in a playoff game.

A six-year NFL veteran of 58 games and 14 starts, Anderson is more than capable of stepping in to start for the Steelers if needed Sunday.

“If I get the call,” Anderson said Monday, “I’ll be ready. You can count on that.”

Anderson finished Sunday’s loss at the Chicago Bears at left tackle for the Steelers following the neck injury suffered by starter Broderick Jones. With clarity lacking on the severity of the stinger Jones is dealing with, the Steelers could turn to Anderson to start this coming Sunday’s home game against the Buffalo Bills.

The 29-year-old Anderson has appeared in 13 games (including playoffs) and played on offense for seven for the Steelers, who have started the same two tackles (Jones and Troy Fautanu) every game this season.

“Calvin has always done a really good job,” starting right guard Mason McCormick said Monday, “and so we knew we were confident with Calvin coming in (against the Bears). We know it’s the ‘next-man-up’ mentality.”

The 6-foot-5, 300-pound Anderson made 12 starts at left tackle between 2020-2022 for the Denver Broncos. He started the first two games of the 2023 season for the New England Patriots. He signed with the Steelers two weeks into last season and quickly ascended to the top backup “swing” tackle role. Anderson took over after an injury to then-starting left tackle Dan Moore Jr. to finish out the wild-card round playoff loss to the Baltimore Ravens.

Filling in for Jones — be it just to finish Sunday’s game, or for a full game this week or even, worst case, for the rest of the season — is no big ask for Anderson.

“I mean, at this point, it’s natural,” Anderson said of playing tackle in the NFL. “I’ve been doing it long enough by now, so it’s all good.”

Coach Mike Tomlin is expected to provide an update on Jones’ status during his Tuesday news conference. The only player among the Steelers’ first-team offensive line to miss a start so far this season is left guard Isaac Seumalo.

“It makes it easy to step in when you have a good group of guys to play with,” Anderson said. “Isaac’s great, obviously, as the (veteran) leader, and then (center Zach Frazier), Mason, Troy. Great group.”

According to Pro Football Focus charting, in a small sample size Anderson against the Bears allowed one pressure (a “hurry”) among 15 pass-block opportunities amidst the 23 overall snaps he played. After Anderson entered the game, the Steelers ran five of their eight running plays to the left side (3.0 yards per carry).

“I trust him,” running back Kenneth Gainwell said. “I trust him fully, and I know the team will, too.”

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