Joey Porter Jr.’s Back Injury Is Still Keeping Him Out, And the Contract Talk Is Getting Louder

Well, dang it. Just when it looked like Joey Porter Jr. might finally hit the field for his 2026 debut, the Steelers dropped the news: he’s out for Thursday night’s game against the Browns. It’s a gut punch for fans hoping to see him play, and it means the team will have to roll into a division showdown without a key piece.

Porter’s Return Takes Another Step Back

This whole situation with Porter Jr. has been a real rollercoaster, hasn’t it? He looked like he was making serious progress toward finally getting into the lineup. The dude was even a full participant in practice on Monday and Tuesday. The only reason he was even on the list was for “conditioning work,” which sounded like he was on the home stretch. But then Wednesday hit, and he was limited in practice, and that back injury that kept him on the physically unable to perform list all summer? Yeah, it’s back on the report.

But here’s the kicker, and this is where it gets spicy: while the back injury and conditioning are the health reasons, his inability to lock down a contract extension has been lurking in the background of all these weekly availability questions. You’ve got to wonder if the “one step forward, one step back” vibe of his practice work isn’t tied into that contract situation. It’s tough to ignore that backdrop when you see him sidelined again.

Other Injury Woes Pile Up for Thursday Night

As if Porter Jr.’s absence wasn’t enough, the Steelers’ cornerbacks are really getting hit hard. Jalen Ramsey is listed as questionable, and get this, he’s saying it’s a broken wrist. A *broken wrist*? That’s just brutal. And Brandin Echols is also questionable, dealing with a concussion. Talk about a banged-up secondary heading into a crucial game.

On top of all that, running back Rico Dowdle is ruled out for the second straight game because of a toe injury. So, it’s not just the defense taking hits, the offense is down a runner too. The Steelers are going to have to dig deep with some serious absences when they face the Browns on Thursday night. It’s going to be a tough battle, and they’ll need everyone else to step up big time with these guys out.

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Originally reported by Pro Football Talk.