PITTSBURGH — Joe Haden felt terrible in the middle of last week as symptoms of COVID-19 took their toll.

A day later, the veteran Pittsburgh Steelers defensive back left better. Physically, anyway. Mentally, Haden feared his second time in the league’s protocols would end the same way the first did: with Haden watching on TV as Pittsburgh’s season came to a swift end.

A year ago, Haden was a well-compensated bystander as the Steelers were run off Heinz Field by Cleveland in the first round of the playoffs. He couldn’t shake a familiar feeling as Pittsburgh prepared to face Baltimore last weekend with a shot at the postseason on the line.

“I was pissed,” Haden said with a laugh Thursday. “I was so upset. The only thing I wanted to know was, ‘Is there any way I can get back playing?’”

Haden did exit the protocols in time to make four tackles in a 16-13 overtime victory over the Ravens that helped push the Steelers (9-7-1) into an improbable trip to Kansas City (12-5) on Sunday to face Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs. While Haden played less than half of Pittsburgh’s defensive snaps, his presence helped a unit that’s been uneven at best.