The Pittsburgh Steelers are back in the building, as players reported July 28th for the start of training camp. With new head coach Mike McCarthy running the ship, this is an uber-important summer, but it looks like cornerback Joey Porter Jr. will start from the sideline.
ESPN's Brooke Pryor reported that Porter Jr. will go on the PUP list, and a source revealed that the injury stemmed from an aggravated back that happened during the morning mobility workout.
That's a surprise for sure, as general manager Omar Khan and McCarthy spoke earlier in the day and Porter Jr. was fine. Khan also said the team is open to an extension, but nothing is "imminent".
With this coming out of left field, there's some belief among fans that this is due to money and Porter Jr. is looking to get an extension before stepping on the field again.
Pittsburgh Steelers Joey Porter Jr.'s new injury may have an underlying reason attached
When discussing the start of camp, Khan believed that everyone would be ready and on the field.
"I expect everybody that’s healthy and able to practice to practice,” Khan said.
That isn't the case after Day 1, and tests will need to be run to see the severity of the injury. Patrick Graham has taken over as the defensive coordinator, so every snap will be beneficial for a team implementing a new system.
Porter Jr. is their CB1, so he'll be missed out there, but the timing does have to make you think. Porter Jr. is going into the final year of his rookie deal, and he's looking to cash in. And when you take a look at his numbers, you can see the argument why.
In 47 games (41 starts), he has compiled 165 total tackles, 31 pass deflections, and three interceptions. Last season, he posted his career-best numbers. His forced incompletions (16) were third among cornerbacks, and his completion rate allowed (47.8 percent) was sixth. In addition, his passer rating allowed (57.1 percent).
Despite those numbers, the Steelers don't seem to be in a rush to extend him. Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette expressed that the team may not pay him as much as people believe.
"They, but I don’t think they’re prepared to pay him the amount some people think he is worth,” Dulac wrote.
That isn't what Porter Jr. wants to hear, especially since he's proven it on the field. The three highest-paid cornerbacks in the NFL (Trent McDuffie, Sauce Gardner, and Derek Stingley Jr.) are getting $30 million-plus. While Porter Jr. may not be as good as those guys, he's certainly looking to get at least $25 million per year.
The market at cornerback has exploded. It appears Porter Jr. and the Steelers still need to reach a middle ground, and his injury could somehow be connected to that. Time will tell, and hopefully it's nothing serious so he can get back on the field and prepare for the 2026 campaign.
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