Injury Setback Hits Steelers Camp — Two Starters Sidelined Before First Snap

Pittsburgh, PA – July 16, 2025 

Summer in Pittsburgh always starts with the sound of cleats striking turf, coaches shouting drills, and the hopeful energy of Saint Vincent College buzzing with championship dreams. But this year, as the Steelers prepared to open training camp, two key names were missing from the field.

DeMarvin Leal and Dylan Cook — two young pillars of the trenches — have officially been placed on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list, team sources told ESPN. It’s not a seismic announcement, but it sends a chill through the excitement of camp.

Leal, once seen as a long-term defensive piece, now faces a more personal challenge — not from an opposing offense, but from the limitations of his own body. Meanwhile, Cook — a dependable protector on the offensive front — must watch from the sidelines as others battle for ground he helped secure.

For Steelers Nation, this isn’t just another injury update. It’s a reminder that the NFL is a brutal battlefield, where no player is guaranteed 100% health — but that’s exactly why this team never folds.

“We’ve been here before. We adapt. We overcome. We survive.” That’s not just a motto — it’s the Black and Gold identity.

Across the league, the Los Angeles Chargers face a similar setback as cornerback Kristian Fulton and linebacker Denzel Perryman were also placed on the PUP list. It’s a quiet signal that the 2025 season is already testing contenders before the first whistle blows.

Though Leal and Cook could return before the season opener, what matters more is this: the Steelers are built to endure. They’ve done it before. They’ll do it again.

Because in Pittsburgh, we don’t just build rosters.
We build resilience.

Stay tuned to ESPN.