Tom Pelissero just confirmed the news: Joey Porter Jr. is reportedly on his way to the Dallas Cowboys, a massive shake-up for a player who has not even stepped on the field this season with the Steelers because of a back injury. This isn’t just some camp body getting moved, either. This is a 26-year-old talent who was a crucial part of Pittsburgh’s defense, and now he is off to try and fix a unit in Dallas that’s clearly struggling.
Pittsburgh Loses A “Very Good” Cornerback
For Pittsburgh, this is a wild turn of events. Porter was literally ruled out for their Thursday Night Football game against the Cleveland Browns, and now he is not even part of their organization anymore. Think about that for a second! The dude started all 30 games he appeared in over the past two seasons for the Steelers, establishing himself as a “very good cornerback” in the league. That’s a huge piece to just let walk away, even with the injury.
The writing might have been on the wall for a bit, though. Porter was a second-round pick in 2023, the first pick of that round, and he is entering the final year of his rookie contract. He wanted a new deal, and he was on the physically unable to perform list during camp. It’s a tough look to lose a player with that kind of pedigree, especially with his dad, Joey Porter Sr., being a Steelers legend who played for them from 1999-2006 and even won Super Bowl XL. Family legacy or not, business is business, and now he is a Cowboy.
Dallas Is Desperate To Fix Its Defense
As for the Cowboys, this move screams desperation, and honestly, who can blame them? They specifically hired Christian Parker from the Eagles to be their defensive coordinator, all to revamp a unit that significantly held the team back last season. You’d think with a new DC, things would be looking up, but through just three games this season, the defense “doesn’t look like it has greatly improved.” That’s a rough assessment this early in the year.
Their most recent game was a brutal 34-31 loss to the Ravens. And get this: Lamar Jackson absolutely pulled off some late heroics, starting a game-winning drive with only seven seconds remaining on the clock, eventually setting up a 56-yard field goal for the win. You don’t make a mid-season trade for a “very good cornerback” who has been sidelined all year unless you are trying to make a statement and fix a glaring problem. This isn’t just a band-aid; it is a desperate attempt to patch a gushing wound. Can Porter, once healthy, be the piece that finally clicks for Parker’s defense?
The Cowboys are clearly tired of watching their defense give up game-winning drives. Adding a player of Porter’s caliber, even with the injury question marks, shows they are serious about turning things around fast. You just know everyone in Dallas will be holding their breath to see him healthy and on the field, because after that Ravens game, they can’t afford many more blown leads.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Fox Sports.
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