New Update On The Playing Status For Steelers' Joey Porter Jr In Week 2 Revealed

The Pittsburgh Steelers have had the highest-paid defense in the NFL for several years in a row. General Manager Omar Khan has not been shy about spending cash on that side of the ball. The salary cap is increasing year over year at a rapid rate, and the team hasn't had a legitimate franchise quarterback. Despite this, the front office came off at entirely too stubborn in regards to Joey Porter Jr. The fourth-year cornerback is due for an extension, and the market for his position is booming. Because of that, the team seems to have stayed away from paying him top dollar.

The average annual value (AAV) is probably not something that has been too much of a concern. With that said, the 2027 franchise tag is expected to come in around $23 million. That gives the Steelers leverage. That doesn't mean that the organization does not want to reward the defender, but the NFL is a business. The two sides could have also been very far apart when it comes to guaranteed money, too.

Porter was inactive for the team's Week 1 contest against the Atlanta Falcons. He wasn't even on the sideline for the first half of the game, which sparked genuine curiosity.

Joey Porter Jr. is at Acrisure Stadium and on the sideline wearing a gray hoodie and gray Steelers athletic shorts, standing next to the DBs on the bench https://t.co/6OnE02zAMw

Now, all eyes are on Week 2. The Steelers have a better defense when Porter is on the field; however, he is said to have a back injury. Head Coach Mike McCarthy has consistently mentioned that the corner is in his ramp-up period. That could be just some fluff for the media while the two sides work out their respective differences behind closed doors.

Fans will get more clarity as preparation for a contest versus the New England Patriots continues. On Wednesday's episode of Locked On Steelers, beat writer Nick Farabaugh gave an update on the status of Porter. There is a little bit of hope that Pittsburgh could have its former second-round selection back when kickoff arrives, and a potential trade would then be ruled out.

"I actually am fairly optimistic Joey will play [in Week 2]," Farabaugh said. "I am, personally optimistic that he will play; and, if he plays I think this goes out the window. So, I don't think [a trade] has anything to do with it at that point."

This is a positive update, but it doesn't mean anything is set in stone just yet. It also isn't ideal that Porter will be seeing Christian Gonzalez on the other sideline, who just inked a massive four-year, $135 million extension. There seems to be one more box to check off before anyone rules out the Steelers trading Porter. If he plays on Sunday, everything is likely to be tabled until the offseason.

Porter should want to get out on the field. While he had a phenomenal 2025 campaign, his first two professional seasons had a lot of negatives on tape. He was extremely handsy and consistently got called for penalties. That was better a season ago, but Pittsburgh, and other teams for that matter, will want to see him replicate that success.

That could be one of the reasons why the Steelers potentially haven't offered him that sizable of a deal to this point. If he can prove himself for one more go-around, the franchise tag will be a formality in 2027. He eventually will get paid some serious cash. However, that carries the risk of injury during the 2026 campaign, and that is probably why he is not the happiest with how everything has turned out to this point.

With several reports coming out about Pittsburgh listening to offers, who knows if another franchise could come calling with a great deal? If Khan is able to get a second, or even first-round selection out of a trade, the team may view that as worth it. On the other hand, the Steelers would be letting someone walk who could be a top cornerback for the next half-decade.