The Pittsburgh Steelers finally received some encouraging news involving star cornerback Joey Porter Jr. when he was activated from the Physically Unable to Perform list. Porter spent the entire preseason dealing with a back issue while his contract situation remained unresolved. Now, with the regular season approaching, Pittsburgh has at least cleared one major hurdle that could allow Porter to be on the field when the games begin to count.
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Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Joey Porter Jr. (24) watches the game against the Green Bay Packers during the second half at Acrisure Stadium.
The timing of the move is significant. Porter and the Steelers still have business to handle if the organization wants to lock him into a long-term contract, but getting him off the PUP list gives both sides more flexibility. Had Porter remained there into the regular season, his availability would have become a much larger concern. Instead, Pittsburgh has positioned him to begin preparing for the opener while contract conversations can continue behind the scenes.
ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter discussed the situation during an appearance on The Pat McAfee Show on Monday. Schefter explained that the NFL's unusual gap between the end of the preseason and the start of the regular season gives the organization valuable time, although he made it clear that the contract negotiations themselves still appear to have plenty of work remaining.
"Well, the amazing part is, we’ve got this huge gap now," Schefter said. "With the way the NFL calendar is set up, it feels like we should be getting ready for games this week. We are not, and so there’s time here. They activated Joey Porter Jr. Obviously, they must feel like his back is healthy at this point in time. They would like to get a deal done if they can, but they’ve got to give him time to get ready for the opener in the event that he’s going to be out there on Opening Day, which is the hope."
That is an important distinction for Steelers fans to keep in mind. Porter's activation does not necessarily mean the two sides have suddenly made significant progress toward an extension. What it does indicate is that the Steelers are preparing for the possibility of Porter playing when the regular season begins, regardless of whether a new contract is completed beforehand. That alone is positive news for Pittsburgh.
Porter is one of the most important pieces of a Steelers secondary that has undergone significant change. The organization clearly wants its young cornerback available, especially after an offseason filled with uncertainty surrounding both his health and contract status. Schefter believes both sides are essentially trying to protect their interests while leaving themselves enough time to reach the outcome they want.
"I think it’s both sides hoping for what they want here," Schefter said. "They are setting it up so that he can play on Opening Day if and when they can get a deal done, which there hasn’t been a lot of progress there. I think there’s still a lot of time and a lot of questions there... It’s a little early."
That last part should probably define the situation right now. There is still reason for concern because Schefter acknowledged that there has not been much progress in negotiations.
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Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Joey Porter Jr. (24) laughs on the sideline while watching a practice session at Saint Vincent College.
The Steelers have spent months attempting to determine Porter's long-term future, and the fact that an agreement still has not been reached this close to the regular season shows that there are legitimate differences between the two sides. Schefter's comments suggest Pittsburgh understands that.
Steelers Still Have Time To Solve The Porter Situation
The Steelers would obviously prefer the cleanest possible outcome. Porter receives the long-term security he is seeking, Pittsburgh keeps one of its best young defensive players, and everyone can turn their attention completely toward football. Whether they can actually reach that point remains uncertain.
Schefter's update provides both good and bad news. The good news is that Pittsburgh appears to be preparing Porter to play, and his back seems healthy enough for him to come off PUP. The concern is that the contract negotiations still do not appear particularly close to being finished. For now, the Steelers have accomplished the most important short-term objective. They have given Porter a path toward being on the field when the regular season begins.
Do you think the Steelers will get a long-term deal done with Porter before the season begins? Or will he ultimately play without an extension? Let us know on X. For more Steelers news and analysis, follow Anthony G. Halkias II @anthonyghalkias.
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