Steelers Place CB Joe Haden on COVID-19 List

The Pittsburgh Steelers have placed cornerback Joe Haden on the COVID-19 reserve list, the team announced on Wednesday.

Haden has started 11 games for the Steelers at left cornerback this season. It’s the second straight season he could miss the final game while in COVID-19 protocol. Haden missed the Steelers’ Wild Card loss to Cleveland last year after testing positive.

He would have to remain asymptomatic and return consecutive negative tests before Sunday’s game at Baltimore in order to play.

He has six passes defended, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery and 34 tackles on the season. The Steelers were 7-3-1 in games where Haden started the game, and 1-4 in games he did not.

Dating back to the start of the 2020 season, the Steelers are 1-7 in games that Haden does not start.

Ahkello Witherspoon would be expected to replace Haden in the starting lineup, with James Pierre and Arthur Maulet, who missed the Week 17 game while on the COVID-19 list, seeing increased playing time.

Haden is the only player from the 53-man roster currently impacted by the virus, as the team got six players back from the COVID-19 list earlier in the day on Wednesday. Practice squad defensive lineman Daniel Archibong and wide receiver Damion Willis are also on the COVID-19 list.