Joey Porter Jr., the Pittsburgh Steelers’ 2023 second-round draft pick, is “up in the air” for Sunday’s game, and it’s not just about a sore back. This whole situation screams contract dispute, big time.
The Standoff: Cash Versus Commitment
Porter Jr. is due to make $3.924 million this year, the final year of his deal, and nothing is imminent on an extension. Meanwhile, other 2023 cornerback picks, Devon Witherspoon and Christian Gonzalez, already locked in their new contracts. So yeah, you can bet Porter Jr. is looking at those deals and thinking, “What about me?” The two sides are talking, but they clearly disagree on the money for a cornerback who hasn’t quite hit Pro Bowl status yet. It’s totally unclear if they can bridge that gap, and that’s a huge problem right now.
The Unbending Deadline and What Comes Next
Here’s the kicker: the Steelers have a hard policy against negotiating once the regular season starts. If a deal isn’t done by Sunday, it won’t happen this year, period. Unless they suddenly decide to ditch their “outdated policy,” as we’re told. Porter Jr. was limited in practice Wednesday with a “back problem,” which, combined with the contract talks, just makes you wonder. If no deal gets done, how hard will it be for the team to question the legitimacy of that back issue? He could sit indefinitely, protesting the idea of playing for less than four million bucks. This isn’t just a minor blip; this is a serious situation heading into Week 1.
Will Porter Jr. suit up on Sunday? With the clock ticking and a hard deadline looming, everyone’s holding their breath. This isn’t just about one game; it’s about the entire season for a key player.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Pro Football Talk.
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