Alright, Pittsburgh fans, if you had any hope of seeing Joey Porter Jr. on the field this Sunday against the Patriots, you can kiss it goodbye. The Steelers’ cornerback has officially been ruled OUT for the second week in a row, a brutal punch to the gut that dropped Friday afternoon.
Zero Practice, Zero Progress, Zero Hope?
This isn’t just a bump in the road; it’s a full-blown roadblock. Steelers head coach Mike McCarthy was literally talking on Thursday, telling everyone they expected Porter to finally do more work in practice. What happened? He dipped out of Friday’s session early and was still massively limited. We’re talking a back injury and *conditioning issues* as the reasons he can’t play. Conditioning! And get this: the dude didn’t even sniff a practice field *all through training camp* because he was stuck chilling on the physically unable to perform list. Think about that for a second. Zero, absolutely zero, practice reps in the preseason, and now two missed games. How in the world do you expect to be ready for the physicality of the NFL regular season with that kind of prep? It’s honestly mind-boggling.
Contract Drama and Growing Doubts
And as if the injury and conditioning weren’t enough, this whole mess is tangled up in an “ongoing contract impasse” with the Steelers. Reports are already swirling that a trade for Porter could be on the table at some point this season. You’ve got a top corner, not practicing, missing games, and now trade rumors? That’s not just a red flag; it’s a five-alarm fire for team chemistry and future planning. It also puts more pressure on the rest of the squad, which is already dealing with more knocks. Wide receiver Michael Pittman missed his second straight practice due to a foot injury, though he’s got a “questionable” tag, leaving a sliver of hope. Left tackle Troy Fautanu also sits in the questionable pile after being limited with an ankle injury. This team is banged up and dealing with major locker room drama early in the season.
So, as the Steelers get ready to face the Patriots, they’re not just missing Joey Porter Jr. again; they’re carrying the weight of his unresolved contract and the rising tide of trade talk. With Pittman and Fautanu also questionable, it feels like they’re starting a crucial early-season game already down key players and battling some serious internal issues. You gotta wonder how long they can keep this up before it really starts to show on the scoreboard.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Pro Football Talk.
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