Steelers' Porter Vows to Play Despite No Extension Deal — SkimNews
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- Joey Porter Jr. said he will 'definitely' play this season despite failing to reach a contract extension with the Steelers by their regular-season deadline, though he was noncommittal about suiting up Sunday against Cincinnati.
- Porter has been inactive for the first two games of the season — he was on the sideline for the Atlanta opener and traveled to New England in Week 2 — while working through a prolonged 'ramp up' period.
- Porter refuted reports that he requested a trade or sought a second opinion on a back injury that dates to the first day of training camp, telling reporters both conditioning and back flare-ups are blocking his return.
- Porter was placed on the physically unable to perform list on training camp report day after aggravating his back during a mobility workout, activated to the 53-man roster Aug. 30, but has yet to be a full practice participant.
- Coach Mike McCarthy said Porter was 'on schedule' and delivered 'quality work' in Wednesday's practice, while Porter said he anticipates a snap count in his season debut whenever it comes.
- Steelers safeties DeShon Elliott and Jaquan Brisker publicly voiced their support during Porter's media scrum — Elliott yelling 'We love you, Joey!' — with Porter insisting there's been 'no strain' with teammates despite the contract drama.
- Porter grinned when asked about facing Cincinnati's Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, noting he's played them each five times and has 'never really struggled' against them.
Why it matters: Pittsburgh's secondary loses a key matchup piece against the Bengals' high-powered passing attack if Porter can't go Sunday — Porter himself noted he's 'never really struggled' against Chase and Higgins across five prior meetings. The failed extension negotiations leave Porter playing out his current deal, while the public show of support from Elliott and Brisker signals no locker-room fracture heading into a pivotal AFC North game.
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