Steelers cornerback Joey Porter Jr. just dropped a bomb, saying he’s not sure if he’ll be on the field for Week One if he doesn’t get a new contract. This isn’t just a casual “maybe,” folks, it’s a full-blown “I don’t know,” when asked directly about playing without a new deal.
The Contract Crunch and Contradictory Answers
Porter wasn’t shy about his position, telling reporters, “I don’t know. I would have to talk to the guys upstairs and my agents about that one.” That’s a pretty clear signal, right? What’s wild is how contradictory he got after that. He just got activated from the physically unable to perform list, which is great, but when pressed if he’d play if he’s healthy, his answer was just, “Yeah, for sure, maybe.” Seriously, dude? That’s not exactly inspiring confidence for the Steelers faithful looking forward to September 13.
Practice Doesn’t Mean Play
Look, Porter *did* participate in today’s walk-through practice. You might think, “Okay, progress!” But he shut that down fast, saying it’s absolutely no indication of what he’ll be doing when the Steelers kick off against the Falcons. He said, “I really can’t speak too much to the future, but today I was out there, running with the guys, still trying to get back fully, but we’re going to try to take it day by day for the most part, and that’s the same page me and coach have been on so far.” You gotta respect the grind, but it sure sounds like the contract is weighing heavy. He even admitted, “It’s been tough, not going to lie. It’s my first go around this, but I mean, it’s been also great because I have all my guys with me, all the coaches and players really on my side, understand everything about the business side of things. . . . It’s been a little bit tough, but at the end of the day, it is what it is.” That’s a player who feels the pressure but has his locker room behind him.
The clock is ticking, and it’s ticking *fast*. The Steelers have made it clear they won’t negotiate during the regular season, giving them less than two weeks to hash out a deal with Porter. This isn’t just about money; it’s about a key player sending a loud message. If they can’t get it done, we might see a very different Steelers defense when they open their season on Sunday, September 13, against the Falcons. Big questions hang over that Week One matchup, and the next few days are critical.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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