That collective sigh of relief Steelers fans let out yesterday? It evaporated faster than a Seattle summer cloud. Cornerback Joey Porter Jr.’s back issue has flared up again, making him limited in Thursday’s practice, a mere 24 hours after he was finally cleared from the injury that kept him out much of the summer.
Porter Jr.’s Back Flap: A Gut Punch For The Defense
This is an absolute gut punch for the Steelers. Porter Jr., their young corner, was initially listed as limited on Wednesday, but that was for a conditioning thing, non-injury related. We all thought, “Okay, he’s back, getting into game shape, no big deal.” Then Thursday rolls around, and boom, the back issue is officially back on the report. Not only that, beat writers saw him leaving practice with medical staff earlier today. That’s not just a ‘limited’ designation, that’s a flashing red light. This guy missed a huge chunk of the summer because of this same back injury, and they had just got it removed from the injury report yesterday. To have it return this fast? It’s a massive setback and has to be incredibly frustrating for him and the coaching staff. You gotta wonder how long this thing is gonna linger, especially so early in the season.
Downgrades, Progress, And Personal Issues
But wait, there’s more. Wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr.’s situation also took a turn for the worse. He was limited on Wednesday with a foot injury, which isn’t ideal, but at least he was out there, right? Nope. Thursday’s report has him as a DNP , Did Not Participate , with that same foot issue. That’s a downgrade, folks. Losing a starting wideout like Pittman Jr. on top of the Porter Jr. news? That’s a tough pill to swallow for the Steelers offense. Tight end Darnell Washington is also still out, missing another practice for what’s listed as ‘personal preseason.’ We don’t have details there, but it’s another missing body, another piece the team is without. It’s not all doom and gloom, though. There’s a glimmer of good news: starting left tackle Troy Fautanu showed some real progress. He went from not participating at all on Wednesday to being limited on Thursday. That’s the kind of step forward you want to see, especially from a guy protecting the quarterback’s blind side. And hey, defensive tackle Cameron Heyward’s ‘rest day’ isn’t an injury concern, so at least there’s that. Still, the overall picture for the Steelers right now is a bit rough around the edges on the injury front, especially with those key skill position players.
The real kicker comes tomorrow. Friday’s when we get the official game statuses , questionable, out, doubtful. Everyone in Pittsburgh, and frankly, anyone watching this early NFL season closely, will be holding their breath for those updates. Will Porter Jr. or Pittman Jr. be able to suit up? How significant is Fautanu’s progress really? These aren’t just names on a report; these are crucial players. Early season health often dictates momentum, and the Steelers are facing some real tests right out of the gate here. What a start to the week for them, huh?
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Behind the Steel Curtain.
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