Can you believe it? Joey Porter Jr. is officially OUT for Week 2 against the New England Patriots, marking his second straight missed game to kick off the season. Man, what a gut punch early on. This isn’t the start anyone in Pittsburgh wanted for their defense.
The Porter Problem Is Real
When a former second-round pick like Porter Jr. can’t even get on the field for the first two weeks, it’s a huge hit to the defensive backfield. He was listed in all three days of practice, which might give you a glimmer of hope, but then a back injury got added to his report on Thursday. That’s a red flag right there. Missing two straight games right out of the gate, especially against the Patriots, puts immediate pressure on the rest of that secondary. You know this team needs every piece healthy and clicking, and this early setback for a key player just stings.
Mixed Bag of Injury News
It’s not all bad, but it’s not all clear skies either on the injury front. Wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. is questionable with a foot injury, and get this, he didn’t even practice on Thursday or Friday. Not ideal at all for their offensive weapons. On a brighter note, offensive tackle Troy Fautanu, who was also listed as questionable, actually ended up being a full participant in Friday’s practice. That’s a huge relief for the O-line, gotta protect the quarterback! And tight end Darnell Washington? He’s got no game designation, which is good, even though he missed Wednesday and Thursday with a personal matter.
This Week 2 showdown against the New England Patriots is going to be a tough one, especially with Porter Jr. sidelined again. The early season is all about setting the tone, and getting healthy is priority number one for these guys. Let’s see how they rally!
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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