The season opener is 12 days away for the Pittsburgh Steelers, which means the clock is winding down for them to sign veteran cornerback Joe Haden to a new contract.

Per team policy, the Steelers cease negotiations once the regular season starts. Haden is entering the final year of a three-year, $27 million contract he signed with the team late in the 2017 preseason. Unless his contract is reworked, he will count $11.9 million against the salary cap.

On the day Haden reported to training camp, he expressed optimism his agent, Drew Rosenhaus, would get a deal done with the Steelers.

Does Haden still share that optimism?

“We’re still working,” Haden said Tuesday. “It’s been a long process. I’m still optimistic, still hoping that everything goes down, but time is ticking. We’ve got a couple days, and we’ll figure it out.”

Haden has not played this preseason with an ankle contusion. He returned to practice Tuesday and said his percentage of health is in the 90s. Haden will not play in the final preseason game Thursday but said if the season opened this weekend, he would be on the field.

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