Steelers Activate OL Joe Haeg from COVID-19 Reserve List

The Pittsburgh Steelers have activated tackle/guard Joe Haeg from the COVID-19 reserve list, the final player from the regular roster that had been impacted by the virus.

Haeg missed the team’s Week 13 and Week 14 games while on the COVID-19 list. He had been helping to replace injured starter Kevin Dotson and backup J.C. Hassenauer at left guard. B.J. Finney filled in after Haeg went on the COVID-19 list, and then he was hurt early in the Baltimore game, leaving John Leglue and Rashaad Coward at left guard for Thursday’s game against Minnesota.

It’s unclear if the Steelers will go with Leglue or go back to Haeg at left guard now what he’s returned to the roster.

Haeg has played in eight games and made one start for the Steelers this season, mostly at right tackle and left guard. He’s played more than half of the snaps in two games, at Green Bay in Week 4, when he started at right tackle, and at Los Angeles in Week 11, when he filled in at left guard.

If Haeg plays more than 25% of the team’s total snaps this season, he will qualify as a countable free agent acquisition for compensatory draft pick purposes and could wash out a fifth-round pick for the Steelers. He is currently at about 21%.

The Steelers will have a temporary roster exemption for Haeg upon his return. They currently have 54 players on their active roster, one over the maximum.