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Steelers CB Joey Porter Jr. (back) out Week 1 amid extension talks

By Thomson Reuters Sep 13, 2026 | 10:31 AM

By Field Level Media

Sep 13 (Field Level Media) – Steelers cornerback Joey Porter Jr. sat out Week 1 with ​a back injury amid an “impasse” ‌between the fourth-year defensive back and Pittsburgh’s front office in contract extension talks.

Steelers coach Mike McCarthy said Porter and the team have not ‌been ​able to make progress ⁠on a long-term contract ⁠extension.

ESPN reported Sunday that the Steelers are “listening” to offers for Porter. He was listed as questionable this week.

Porter said ​at the end of training camp that he would consider not suiting ⁠up if the two ⁠sides didn’t make some type ​of progress toward a new deal. Porter ​requested a trade and informed the ‌team he is open to moving elsewhere, ESPN reported.

“I mean, at the end of the day, it’s business, and I ⁠know what that is and I got my head straight to understand that,” Porter said ⁠Friday.

Since the ‌end of the 2025 regular ⁠season, four cornerbacks have signed ​contracts ‌averaging at least $30 million annually.

Porter, ​the son ⁠of former Steelers outside linebacker Joey Porter Sr., was a second-round pick (No. 32 overall) in the 2023 draft. He has three career interceptions in 47 regular-season games.

(–Field ​Level Media)