Browns to Sign former Steelers OT Joe Haeg

The Cleveland Browns are set to sign former Pittsburgh Steelers offensive tackle Joe Haeg, according to a report by Mike Garafalo of NFL Network.

Haeg was a surprise release on Tuesday as the Steelers made their final cut down to the 53-man roster limit. He spent all of the 2021 season and this entire offseason as the team’s No. 3 tackle and top backup on both the left and the right sides. Haeg also has played guard.

Haeg, 29, played in 12 games made two starts for the Steelers in 2021, one of which was the Week 18 playoff-clinching game against the Baltimore Ravens. He was the team’s third-highest graded offensive linemen among those with more than 100 snaps, according to Pro Football Focus.

Before his time in Pittsburgh, Haeg spent the 2020 season in Tampa, playing in 12 games and making three starts on the way to the Buccaneers winning Super Bowl XLI in their hometown.

He spent the previous four years with the Indianapolis Colts, making 35 starts over four seasons with the Colts, mostly at right tackle. The Colts drafted Haeg in the fifth round of the 2016 NFL Draft out of North Dakota State.

The Steelers chose to keep fellow veteran backup Trent Scott over Haeg and also traded for former Miami Dolphins starter Jesse Davis on Tuesday. 

The Browns are expected to start Jack Conklin and Jedrick Wills Jr. at tackle, with 2021 fourth-round draft pick James Hudson III and former Steelers tackle Chris Hubbard serving as backups. But Conklin had knee surgery in December, and Cleveland head coach Kevin Stefanski has not said whether he will be ready to play in the season opener against the Carolina Panthers on Sept. 11.

Haeg also visited with the Las Vegas Raiders before signing with the Browns.

The Steelers and Browns will play in Week 3, on Thursday Sept. 22, and then again in Week 18.