Alright, so the Steelers are heading into the season opener against the Atlanta Falcons with a couple of huge question marks hanging over their defense, and it all revolves around their top two defensive backs, Joey Porter Jr. and Jalen Ramsey. Both guys were slapped onto the physically unable to perform list on July 28th, right when training camp kicked off, and we didn’t see either one of them practice at Saint Vincent College.
Injuries and the Waiting Game in Pittsburgh
Jalen Ramsey’s situation stems from a knee injury he picked up during the offseason minicamp. The good news? No surgery was needed. The bad news? It kept him sidelined for the entire camp. Then there’s Joey Porter Jr., whose absence is a bit more tangled. He was a surprise addition to the PUP list before camp even started, battling a back injury. Steelers head coach Mike McCarthy, ever the optimist, held a press conference recently and said both players are “making progress.” McCarthy didn’t seem to have “much long-term concern” about either guy, according to Nick Farabaugh of PennLive. You gotta hope that confidence translates onto the field, because having two starting corners out is never a good look, no matter how much “progress” they’re making.
The Big Money Elephant in the Room: Porter Jr.’s Contract
But for Porter Jr., his back injury might not be the whole story. There’s a ton of talk, and it sounds pretty reasonable, that his absence from practice has everything to do with ongoing contract negotiations. And guess who set the new benchmark for cornerbacks? Our very own Seahawks superstar, Devon Witherspoon! Witherspoon just blew the roof off the league, becoming the highest-paid corner in NFL history with a whopping $132 million deal, shaking out to $33 million per season. If the Steelers want to lock up Porter Jr. before the season starts, you can bet your bottom dollar the number is going to be at least $30 million per season. That’s a huge chunk of change, and it shows you the kind of impact players like Witherspoon have across the entire league. It’s not just about the Emerald City, folks, it’s about the market, and Witherspoon just reset it.
Coach McCarthy is still holding strong, though. He’s confident that both Ramsey and Porter Jr. will be healthy enough to hit the field for that season opener against the Falcons. In the meantime, he’s been emphasizing the “importance of letting the young guys play in the preseason.” That’s code for “we’re down two of our best, so the rookies better step up.” And those young corners have certainly been getting a lot more work all summer long because of these absences. It’s a huge opportunity for some fresh faces to show what they’ve got before the real games start.
The Steelers are set to kick off their season soon, and all eyes will be on whether McCarthy’s optimism holds true. Can these two key defenders be ready for Week 1? And more importantly, will Porter Jr.’s contract situation get sorted, or will Witherspoon’s monster deal keep that price tag climbing? It’s going to be wild to watch.
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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