McCarthy Declines Return Timeline for Joey Porter Jr. as $3.924 Million Contract Rift Lingers
Updated
Updated · NBC Sports · Sep 14
McCarthy Declines Return Timeline for Joey Porter Jr. as $3.924 Million Contract Rift Lingers
3 articles · Updated · NBC Sports · Sep 14
Summary
Joey Porter Jr. missed Pittsburgh’s season-opening win over Atlanta, and Mike McCarthy said only that the cornerback could take on more work when practice resumes Wednesday.
A back injury kept Porter out for all of training camp, and McCarthy said he is still in a "ramp-up" period before he can handle a full padded practice.
McCarthy said he expects Porter to play once that process is complete, but Porter has not publicly committed to playing amid an unresolved extension dispute.
Porter is due $3.924 million in 2026 and wants a new deal in line with Devon Witherspoon and Christian Gonzalez; with Pittsburgh halting negotiations during the season, a trade remains possible.
ESPN reported the Steelers have neither made nor received trade calls for the 2023 second-round pick, leaving his recovery and contract standoff as the immediate focus.