PITTSBURGH (AP) — Cornerback Joey Porter Jr. of the Pittsburgh Steelers returned to practice on Tuesday, shaking off concerns about his back injury. However, his immediate future with the team remains uncertain as he contemplates his contract situation.
The 26-year-old defensive back has not committed to participating in the Steelers' season opener against the Atlanta Falcons on September 13. Porter stated, “I don’t know. I’ve got to talk to (the front office) and my agents about that one.” This ambiguity comes as he approaches the final year of his rookie contract, which he signed after being drafted as the first pick of the second round in 2023.
Porter expressed confidence in his abilities, claiming during minicamp in June that he ranks among the top defensive backs in the league and expects to be compensated accordingly. Despite his impressive performance, which includes not allowing a touchdown pass while being the primary defender since his rookie season, he has yet to finalize a new deal.
Steelers general manager Omar Khan has publicly stated his desire for Porter to remain with the team throughout his career, yet it appears that negotiations have not progressed significantly. Porter, who has deep ties to the Steelers organization as the son of former linebacker and coach Joey Porter Sr., finds the business aspect of his situation challenging.
“It’s been tough, I’m not going to lie, and it’s my first go-around with this,” Porter admitted. “But I mean, it’s been also great because I have all my guys with me, all the coaches and players really are on my side.” The support from his teammates is evident, with veteran defensive back Jalen Ramsey recently advocating for the Steelers to pay Porter. However, first-year head coach Mike McCarthy described the current state of negotiations as an impasse.
As the season opener approaches, Porter remains hopeful for a resolution but acknowledges that the decision lies with the front office. “I could hope and think all day, but it’s really, it’s up to (the front office) and what they want to do with this team,” he said. “So all I can do is just show up every day to work and be prepared.”
The Steelers have already secured new contracts for other members of their 2023 draft class, including linebacker Nick Herbig and tight end Darnell Washington. Porter expressed happiness for his teammates, emphasizing, “Those are my guys. So I was ecstatic that they got paid.”
With the regular season set to begin, the Steelers maintain a longstanding policy of halting negotiations once the season kicks off, creating a firm deadline for Porter and the organization to reach an agreement. Historically, the Steelers have been known to finalize contracts at the last minute, as seen when star outside linebacker T.J. Watt agreed to terms less than 72 hours before the 2021 season opener.
Porter noted, “Things carry out a long time. I know T.J. went through this. Cam Heyward went through this as well. So I never really had a clock on it. If it gets done, it gets done. If it don’t, it don’t.”
Heyward, a seven-time Pro Bowler, has offered advice to Porter, suggesting he not take the situation personally, even though it can be difficult. He remains confident that the contract situation will not hinder Porter’s performance on the field. “I think every player in there says Joey’s got to do what’s best for him and Joey’s got to be ready for Week 1, and hopefully we can celebrate a new contract for him,” Heyward stated.
Despite being limited by a back issue that arose during a mobility test at the start of training camp in late July, Porter has been actively engaged in studying the new defensive strategies under first-year coordinator Patrick Graham. He emphasized that his absence from practice was solely due to the injury. Heyward believes that once Porter returns to the field, he will continue to excel as one of the league's top man-to-man defenders. “We’re expecting him to be the Joey of usual,” Heyward said. “I don’t think there’s going to be a drop-off. I think we’ve all got to be ready to welcome him back.”
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