Pittsburgh Steelers General Manager Omar Khan appeared on the podium on Tuesday morning as the team reported for 2026 training camp. There was a lot of excitement coming from the leader of the front office, but he delivered some bad news as well. For one, he mentioned that contract talks that may or may not be going on haven't led to anything being imminent. That means that individuals like Joey Porter Jr. and Keeanu Benton might not be very close to agreeing on extensions. It was also announced during the press conference that defenders Jalen Ramsey and Donte Kent would be placed on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list.
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Steelers cornerback Jalen Ramsey runs on the field as the team works out during a 2025 training camp practice at St. Vincent College in Latrobe, PA.
Khan finished meeting with reporters and Head Coach Mike McCarthy would come not too long after. It seemed at this time that no other players were at risk of being sidelined for the beginning of training camp. Then, in a surprise twist, the Steelers announced that Porter would also be placed on PUP, immediately leading to questions about why there wasn't transparency earlier in the day.
ESPN's Brooke Pryor reported that Porter suffered some kind of back injury while going through mobility workouts with the team on Tuesday morning. This is apparently what led to him being placed on PUP.
CB Joey Porter Jr.’s placement on PUP comes after he aggravated his back during the team’s mobility workout this morning, per source.
— Brooke Pryor (@bepryor) July 28, 2026
It's certainly possible that Porter is actually injured and will need some time to recover. However, a mysterious back injury popping up on the very first day of team activities should lead to questions. The cornerback is due for an extension that could be worth anywhere between $20 and $30 million per season. This injury could either lead to talks halting due to an unforeseen ailment, or could be a strategic tactic to avoid even working out off to the side during camp.
Additionally, Khan noted in his press conference that he would be expecting anyone who was healthy to practice. At the time of those comments, Steelers fans everywhere believed that the 2023 second-round pick would be good to go when it came to his health. Shortly after those words from the general manager, a back injury forced the defender onto PUP. Could it be a coincidence? Sure. However, it at least should warrant some curiosity.
Pryor also wrote recently that Porter was on and off the exercise bike during Organized Team Activities (OTAs). If that issue was lingering, he likely would have been declared as a PUP candidate when Khan mentioned both Ramsey and Kent. Players that are due for big-time money deals could have a number of different influences speaking to them at once, and it's not out of the question that a decision was made to figure out a different angle in negotiating tactics.
Alysa Rubin / Pittsburgh Steelers
Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Joey Porter Jr. (24) during a regular season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Indianapolis Colts, Sunday, Nov. 2, 2025 in Pittsburgh, PA.
This is merely speculative, but it's worth asking the question. Porter has never received a Pro Bowl or an All-Pro nod, which could be what the Steelers are using as leverage. On the other hand, Porter has been rather dominant on the outside and seems to be a true lockdown corner. If talks are truly at a standstill, a slight back injury could help to move the needle one way or the other.
It's impossible to ignore the timing of the injury, especially because it was unknown to anyone just two hours prior to it being announced when Khan was speaking with the media for the first time in a while.
Joey Porter Jr. is a late addition to the PUP list. Omar Khan and Mike McCarthy did not mention Porter this morning when they met with reporters.
— Ray Fittipaldo (@rayfitt1) July 28, 2026
Injuries are never something that should be taken lightly; however, this back issue is extremely vague. A small tweak could lead to some rest and a couple days of heat and/or ice; or, it could end up with Porter complaining about some discomfort until he gets the contract offer that he is desiring. Anything is possible, and no one will truly know what the behind-the-scenes details are. It remains a bit of an intriguing and sudden PUP placement.
Steelers Seem To Be In Slight Predicament
Whether this ailment going on with Porter is legitimate or not, he could drag it out as long as he wants to at this juncture. It shouldn't surprise Steelers fans if a deal is agreed upon, and he is suddenly ready to be activated off of PUP. Porter wouldn't risk talks stalling due to a little tweak, so this is either a strategic play by him and his camp, or a legitimate problem that is worth monitoring.
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