**Joey Porter Jr.** has missed the first two games of the 2026 season for the Pittsburgh Steelers, but don’t look now, because the team is already making plans for his big return! They’re absolutely aiming for him to hit the field in Week 3, a huge showdown against the Cincinnati Bengals. You’d think that’s good news, right? Well, there’s always a catch, especially with this guy.
The Plan, The Past, and The Problem
So, yeah, Adam Schefter is reporting that the Steelers are straight-up *planning* for **Porter Jr.** to play next week. It’s a big move after he’s been sidelined for those opening two games of the year. This whole thing kinda started way back in the offseason, didn’t it? **Porter** spent all that time trying to lock down a contract extension, but no deal got done. And guess what? During that whole back-and-forth, he conveniently starts dealing with what the team officially classified as a “back injury.” Coincidence? You tell me!
The Real Deal With That Back
But hold up, because this story’s got more twists than a pretzel. Schefter also drops the bomb that **Porter** is actually looking into getting a second opinion on his back! Why? Because, as a source close to the situation put it, his back has “flared up when he’s tried to go full speed, and they haven’t been able to get it where it needs to be.” So you’ve got the team all set to roll him out in Week 3, while the player himself is still trying to figure out what’s really going on with his body. This isn’t just a minor tweak, folks, it sounds like a real issue for a guy trying to get back to full speed.
Honestly, this is turning into a “seemingly never-ending saga,” isn’t it? While all this drama is playing out with **Porter Jr.**, the Steelers still have to focus on the game right in front of them. They’re hitting the field at 1:00 EST today to try and push their record to a perfect 2-0 against the New England Patriots. Everyone’s gonna be watching that Week 3 Bengals game like a hawk to see if **Porter Jr.** actually suits up, or if that second opinion completely blows up the Steelers’ plans. What a mess!
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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