The Pittsburgh Steelers are desperately looking for any type of positive momentum to close out the season. After losing three straight games to strong teams, including a tough loss to the Kansas City Chiefs on Christmas Day, their Super Bowl hopes have dwindled. With the regular season finale against the Cincinnati Bengals on the horizon, the Steelers are hoping for a strong performance to finish on a high note.
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Steelers' Joey Porter Jr. breaks up a pass against the Cincinnati Bengals during his 2023 rookie season.
Star cornerback Joey Porter Jr. is expected to be back on the field for the Week 18 matchup against the Bengals. Porter's previous outing against Cincinnati left much to be desired, as he was flagged for six penalties and missed an easy interception late in the game. It was a frustrating performance, but the young cornerback is determined to redeem himself in this crucial game.
Slowing down the Bengals' potent offense, led by quarterback Joe Burrow and wide receivers Tee Higgins and Ja'Marr Chase, is no easy task. However, Porter is confident that he can turn things around and deliver a much better performance this time around. He’s especially eager to get another shot at Higgins, who gave him a tough time in their earlier encounter.
"Definitely gonna get Higgins again," Porter said. "I think he's just overall a good receiver. He's got a lot of good qualities to his game that I like. He could go attack the ball. He is pretty fast, so it's gonna be a good matchup."
In Week 13, Higgins had a solid performance, catching five passes for 69 yards and a touchdown. However, his biggest impact came in frustrating Porter, drawing key pass interference penalties. Fortunately for the Steelers, they were able to hang on and secure the win. Now, Higgins enters this game fresh off an 11-catch, 131-yard, three-touchdown outing. Slowing him down will be crucial if Pittsburgh hopes to end their three-game skid.
Jared Wickerham / Pittsburgh Steelers
Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Joey Porter Jr. intercepts a pass during a game against the Baltimore Ravens.
Porter has flashed his potential throughout his first two seasons in the Steel City, but he’s also demonstrated some of the growing pains typical of a young cornerback. Avoiding costly penalties and delivering a strong performance will be essential for Pittsburgh to get back on track. With the Bengals' offense firing on all cylinders, the play of the cornerbacks, particularly Porter, will be a key factor in determining the outcome of this game.
Steelers Get Mixed Injury Update At The Cornerback Spot
Porter had been dealing with an injury he sustained against the Baltimore Ravens, which forced him to miss the game against the Chiefs. Fortunately, his absence was due to the short turnaround, and now he’s expected to return at full health.
Having Porter back is a significant boost for the Steelers' secondary, which has been struggling in recent weeks. Porter is eager for revenge against the Bengals' passing attack and will be looking to deliver a standout performance on Saturday. The other big point to watch for this game is cornerback Donte Jackson's status. Jackson has been dealing with a couple different injuries.
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Steelers' Teryl Austin speaks to members of the media during the 2024 NFL season.
He's listed as questionable with a pinched nerve in his back. Steeler Nation will hope he can go against the Bengals. If not, there is likely to be some mismatches that the Bengals will target. Whether Jackson can play or not, Defensive Coordinator Teryl Austin better figure out a way to slow down the Bengals high powered offense.
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