Joey Porter Jr. has been a ghost at Steelers’ practices this summer, showing up but refusing to participate as he pushes hard for a new contract. This isn’t just a minor holdout, folks; Coach Mike McCarthy flat-out said the team is at an “impasse” with their emerging cornerback, and that spells trouble for their secondary right when the regular season is kicking off.
Ramsey Calls For Action As Week 1 Looms
Porter isn’t just holding out for money; he’s also on the team’s physically unable to perform list after aggravating his back during a mobility test on the first day of training camp. Talk about a double whammy! Fellow defensive back Jalen Ramsey, who also missed camp with a knee injury but is now off the PUP list, didn’t mince words. He’s pushing for a resolution, telling ESPN, “We need the whole secondary out there. They got to pay Joey Porter, and we need got some other guys that are out as well. So, the secondary has not been out there together yet, so I can’t answer that for you.” Ramsey knows what’s up: a depleted secondary isn’t going to cut it. With the Steelers set to host the Falcons in Week 1 on September 13, that unofficial deadline to get something done with Porter is coming fast, and the clock is ticking loud.
Dallas and Chicago Are Already Making Moves
While it feels more likely that Porter stays in Pittsburgh through 2026, the league always has its eyes open. If things really blow up and a trade becomes a real possibility, two teams are already looking like prime landing spots. First up, the Dallas Cowboys. They’ve got the cap space after trading Micah Parsons last summer, and Joey Porter Jr. would slide in perfectly to complement their secondary, even serving as a mentor for first-round pick Caleb Downs. Plus, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, all 83 years old of him, is absolutely desperate to end Dallas’ 31-year championship drought, and he *loves* making splashy trades. It doesn’t hurt that Jones and Steelers GM Omar Khan have a history of working out significant deals.
Then there are the Chicago Bears. Their pass defense was a mess in 2025, and it’s looking pretty weak for 2026 too, thanks to injuries to starting safety Coby Bryant (knee) and starting nickelback Kyler Gordon (calf). They drafted safety Dillon Thieneman, but he alone can’t fix that unit. Porter’s arrival would instantly strengthen their Super Bowl aspirations, and just like with Dallas, Khan and Bears GM Ryan Poles have a trade history that could make this happen.
The Steelers are heading into Week 1 against the Falcons on September 13, and they’ve got to figure out this Porter situation. Will they pay the man and get him on the field, or are we about to see a blockbuster trade that sends him packing and changes the landscape of the league? This is going to be wild.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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