"Hard To Argue" Steelers' Joey Porter Jr Is A True #1 Cornerback

The Pittsburgh Steelers made several big-time offseason moves to prepare for slowing down the Cincinnati Bengals’ star wide receivers Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins. On Thursday night, however, the Steelers’ new pieces in the secondary failed to make an impact, as Chase and Higgins combined for 257 receiving yards on 24 catches. The team’s defensive plan appeared to break down repeatedly, exposing major gaps in coverage and leaving the secondary struggling to keep up.

On the biggest play of the game for the Steelers’ defense, Chase was completely wide open, with no cornerback anywhere near him. The play highlighted the struggles of the unit and became a glaring example of how ineffective the defense was against the Bengals’ top talent. It was a brutal showing overall, raising serious concerns about whether the offseason additions are enough to slow down elite offenses.

One player drawing significant criticism is cornerback Joey Porter Jr. Steelers insider Ray Fittipaldo believes it may be time to sound the alarm on the third-year cornerback. Porter Jr.’s performance has been inconsistent, and Thursday’s game added to the growing questions about his ability to be a reliable part of the Steelers’ secondary. With expectations high after the offseason moves, Porter Jr. and the defense will need to respond quickly or risk a rough start to the season.

"Yeah, I mean it's hard to argue that he's a number one corner when he continues to put out performances like that against the Bengals," Fittipaldo said Friday while speaking on 93.7 The Fan. "Last year in Cincinnati, I know the Steelers won 44-38, but he had six penalties in that game. Four pass interference, I think two defensive holding calls. So clearly he's struggling in some big matchups. I know they had high hopes for him, almost a first-round pick and all that. At least against Ja'Marr Chase and the Bengals, it doesn't look too pretty for Joey Porter Jr."

The first part of Fittipaldo’s take that stands out is that not many cornerbacks would have success against a wide receiver like Chase. He is arguably the best receiver in the NFL right now and is not an easy matchup by any means. Still, the Steelers insider believes Porter should be producing better film in these matchups. From dealing with penalties to simply getting beaten, Porter’s performance against the Bengals has left plenty of room for concern.

The Steelers added cornerbacks like Jalen Ramsey and Darius Slay in the offseason to help slow down elite passing attacks. 

They assumed they would be facing Joe Burrow, but instead matched up against Joe Flacco—and even that didn’t matter. The Bengals’ offense still put up 470 total yards against Pittsburgh on Thursday night, a number that is far from a recipe for winning.

Steelers' Coaches Have To Be Better

Mike Tomlin and Defensive Coordinator Teryl Austin are fully aware of the problems exposed in the game, but the question that remains is whether they can fix them. 

With the season sitting at 4-2 and the AFC North in their control, the Steelers’ secondary faces a crucial test to prove it can rise to the challenge or risk falling behind elite offenses in the AFC.

Do you agree with Fittipaldo about Porter not being a true star cornerback in the league? Why or why not? Let us know in the comments below! Please feel free to share your Steelers takes with me on X @anthonyghalkias and follow me.

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