Steelers CB Joey Porter Jr. Inactive for Opener versus Falcons as Back Issues, Contract Talks Linger
Pittsburgh added secondary depth as Joey Porter Jr. remained questionable with a back injury and contract talks unresolved, with Sunday’s roster decision looming.
- On Saturday, the Pittsburgh Steelers elevated cornerback Doneiko Slaughter from their practice squad for Week 1 against the Atlanta Falcons, as Joey Porter remains questionable for Sunday's game due to a back injury.
- Porter, 26, enters the final year of his rookie contract amid stalled extension talks, while the Steelers hold a strict policy prohibiting in-season negotiations, leaving the two sides far apart on his value.
- Sources report Porter is unlikely to play Sunday, and the team remains open to trading him; if he sits out, Asante Samuel is expected to take an elevated role against the Falcons.
- Several cornerbacks across the NFL recently signed deals exceeding $30 million annually, a benchmark the Steelers have not approached for Porter, and no serious trade offers have emerged at the team's premium asking price.
- Steelers coach Mike McCarthy stated Porter is "working through the ramp-up stage" following his summer absence, and with the team's no-negotiation policy in effect, focus remains on his immediate availability and future in Pittsburgh.
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Steelers CB Joey Porter Jr. (back) out Week 1 amid extension talks
Steelers cornerback Joey Porter Jr. sat out Week 1 with a back injury amid an "impasse" between the fourth-year defensive back and Pittsburgh's front office in contract extension talks. Steelers coach Mike McCarthy said Porter and the team have not been able to make progress on a long-term contract extension. ESPN reported Sunday that the
Pittsburgh Steelers add unheralded cornerback before Falcons game
The Pittsburgh Steelers have elevated cornerback Doneiko Slaughter from the practice squad to the active roster. Slaughter will help replace some of the depth left behind by Joey Porter Jr., who is out with a back injury amid a contract dispute with the team.
Steelers CB Joey Porter Jr. inactive for opener versus Falcons as back
FILE - Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Joey Porter Jr. reacts after a stop during the second half of an NFL wild-card playoff football game against the Houston Texans, Jan. 12, 2026, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Justin Berl, File)
Reports: Steelers CB Joey Porter Jr. expected to sit Week 1
By Field Level Media Sep 13 (Field Level Media) - Steelers cornerback Joey Porter Jr. is expected to sit out Week 1 with a back injury with the fourth-year defensive back and Pittsburgh's front office at "an impasse" in contract extension talks. Stee...
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