For exactly 2 hours and 1 minute Wednesday, the Pittsburgh Steelers had no players on the NFL’s covid-19 list.
Not long after four defensive starters were included among six players who were activated to the 53-man roster, veteran cornerback Joe Haden and defensive coordinator Keith Butler were put on the covid list.
Because of modified NFL protocols, the moves do not guarantee that Haden nor Butler will miss the Steelers’ regular-season finale Sunday at the Baltimore Ravens. But it does make it possible that Haden’s Steelers career could be over. He is a pending unrestricted free agent.
According to a team spokesman, head coach Mike Tomlin will speak to the media in place of Butler on Thursday. He is then expected to expound on the Steelers’ plan for designing and calling defenses Sunday.
The Steelers beat the Cleveland Browns on Monday without all six of the players who were activated Wednesday: starting inside linebackers Devin Bush and Joe Schobert, starting defensive lineman Chris Wormley, No. 1 nickel cornerback Arthur Maulet, reserve offensive tackle Zach Banner and change-of-pace running back Anthony McFarland.
All had spent between five and 14 days on the covid list. League and team policy dictate that an official reason is not given, though under the newest NFL protocols each almost certainly tested positive for coronavirus.
Through Nov. 13, the Steelers were the final remaining team in the NFL to avoid placing any player on the covid list. But since Ben Roethlisberger tested positive Nov. 14, the Steelers have had at least one player on the list continuously.
Two players remain on the Steelers’ practice squad covid list: defensive lineman Daniel Archibong and receiver Damion Willis.
Players who test positive have a 90-day testing holiday, under league rules, during which they are not tested.
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