Mike McCarthy just revealed that the Joey Porter Jr. saga may finally be nearing its end following key update on his status
While the Pittsburgh Steelers and Joey Porter Jr. have yet to come to terms on his future, head coach Mike McCarthy provided a huge update about his status ahead of Week 1 against the Atlanta Falcons.
The Joey Porter Jr. saga has taken a significant turn. Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike McCarthy told reporters that the cornerback will return to practice after the team activated him off the PUP list. As seen in a video via Alan Saunders on X (Twitter): Joey Porter Jr. will be back on the practice field.
The Steelers open the 2026 season against the Atlanta Falcons in less than two weeks, and Porter’s availability for that Week 1 matchup remains unclear. What we do know is that McCarthy expects Porter to participate in a walkthrough on Tuesday before ramping up to full practice sessions Wednesday and Thursday.
General manager Omar Khan echoed McCarthy’s stance on Monday, saying: “Anybody who healthy, off PUP, not on the IR, we expect them to be out there.”
Key Takeaways
- 52 tackles
- 14 pass breakups
- 1 interception
What does this mean for Porter’s contract?
So the question becomes, is Joey Porter Jr. going to play this season without a new deal? Because practicing and playing are two different things, and neither has anything to do with whether a contract extension gets done.
The last we heard, the two sides remain far apart. That’s why it sparked some discussion of a Porter Jr. trade, even if that was more media fabrication than the Steelers. Per Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, Porter is seeking to be the highest-paid cornerback in the league. Pittsburgh, to this point, has not been willing to meet that demand.
Porter could be betting on himself
There are two ways to read this development. On Porter’s side, this looks like a player saying: if you don’t want to pay me, I’m going to bet on myself. Come out, put the work on film, and show the Steelers exactly why they need to pay top-of-market money for a franchise cornerback.
On the Steelers’ side, the organization gets something it has wanted for months. Pittsburgh wants to see what Porter looks like in the new scheme under defensive coordinator Patrick Graham. The coaching staff wants to evaluate their cornerback in a live setting before committing to the type of money Porter is asking for.
In reality, both sides have something to gain from Porter returning to the field. Porter gets the chance to prove his value. The Steelers get their best defensive back in the building and on the grass ahead of a season opener that carries serious weight.
The bottom line
The truth is, Porter practicing does not mean this situation is resolved. The contract impasse remains, and the gap between the two sides has not narrowed based on anything we’ve heard publicly. But the fact that Porter is willing to suit up and get back to work tells you something about where his head is. He believes in his ability enough to let the tape do the talking.
Whether that leads to a long-term deal before Week 1 or a season-long standoff between player and front office, the next two weeks in Pittsburgh should tell us a lot.
