Joey Porter Jr., arguably the absolute best player from the Pittsburgh Steelers’ 2023 draft class, is throwing a serious wrench into their early season plans. After spending the entire summer sidelined on the Physically Unable to Perform list due to a reported back injury, the star cornerback finally hit the practice field this past Sunday. But when he spoke to the media after his first practice back, he dropped a bombshell that has to be making Steelers fans sweat: he straight up “didn’t know” if he would play in Week 1. That’s right, the season opener against the Atlanta Falcons on September 13 is officially up in the air for their top corner.
Is Joey Porter Jr. Really “Ramping Up” Or Just Playing Hardball?
Porter Jr. hasn’t seen any summer action, stuck on the PUP list, and it sounds like his absence isn’t solely about his back. The man is openly gunning for a new contract in what’s become a fiercely competitive cornerback market across the league, and he’s not being subtle about it. When pressed on his Week 1 availability, he was quoted by ESPN’s Brooke Pryor saying, “I have to talk to the guys upstairs, my agents about that one.” Later, The Athletic’s Mike DeFabo reported Porter’s response to playing if healthy was an eyebrow-raising, “Yeah, for sure… maybe.” While he told Steelers Now’s Alan Saunders that he’s “still trying to get back fully,” a “maybe” when asked about playing if healthy screams more than just physical recovery. It sounds like a strong signal about his contract situation.
The Witherspoon Effect: How Emerald City Money Is Shaking Up The League
This is where things get really spicy. Porter is heading into the final year of his rookie deal, a pivotal season for any young player. And here’s the kicker: unlike three of his fellow 2023 draft classmates, he hasn’t received that coveted big-money extension from the Steelers. Why the hold-up? Because the cornerback market absolutely exploded this offseason. And who was at the forefront of that seismic shift? Our very own Emerald City talent, Devon Witherspoon. The Seahawks’ electrifying cornerback didn’t just get paid, he *reset* the entire position’s salary expectations with a staggering $33 million average-per-year extension. That kind of mega-deal makes every other top-tier corner on a rookie contract, especially one “arguably the best” like Porter Jr., look at their situation and ask, “When do I get a piece of that?” Steelers Head Coach Mike McCarthy noted before Tuesday’s practice that Porter was still merely “ramping up” after his time on the PUP list, which sounds like an understatement given Porter’s own ambiguous comments.
The Steelers are set to kick off their season at home against the Atlanta Falcons on September 13. Every fan, and likely every front office in the league, will be glued to whether Joey Porter Jr. actually suits up. If he remains on the sidelines, it won’t just be a lingering back injury keeping him out. It will be a cold, calculated negotiation, and the ripple effects from Devon Witherspoon’s record-setting deal are undoubtedly a major factor in this high-stakes game. What a wild and uncertain start to the NFL season for Pittsburgh, and you can bet other teams with expiring rookie deals are watching this showdown unfold very closely.
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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