Steelers' Jalen Ramsey Has Given Joey Porter Jr Special Tactics In Dealing With Latest Contract Negotiation

The Pittsburgh Steelers are just over a week away from the team's season opener against the Atlanta Falcons at Acrisure Stadium. The date of that game just so happens to also be the unofficial deadline to get a contract extension done with star cornerback Joey Porter Jr. The two sides have had the entire offseason to get something accomplished, but nothing has come to fruition and it still seems like the two sides are far apart from reaching an agreement on an extension. Porter is an integral part of this team, and it is important that the Steelers are able to get their lockdown cornerback under contract.

Porter was in attendance throughout the offseason program, but he did not participate. That type of "hold-in" was also expected in Latrobe for training camp, but Porter was actually placed on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list the day before camp officially began. The reasoning for this was some sort of back injury, but it was described to be nothing serious. Many were skeptical as to whether or not there was a legitimate back injury for Porter as the timing was suspicious when taking his contract situation into account.

This tactic is something that has been seen in the past, and it was actually seen with Porter's teammate, Jalen Ramsey. Ramsey used a back injury in an attempt to force his way into a trade from the Jacksonville Jaguars back in the 2019 season. It worked out and he was traded to the Los Angeles Rams. Bill Barnwell noted this in a recent piece for ESPN.

"Porter just came off the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list with a back injury. (You can decide whether it might be the same injury teammate Jalen Ramsey battled when he was hankering for a move away from the Jaguars in 2019, an issue that miraculously cleared up on the flight from Jacksonville to Los Angeles after Ramsey was dealt to the Rams)," Barnwell wrote.

The situations are similar, but there are distinct differences. Porter's situation happened in the offseason right before training camp, while Ramsey's "back injury" popped up during the regular season after he had a clear disagreement with his head coach on the sideline during a game. He and former head coach Doug Marrone were shouting at one another, which led to the front office scolding Ramsey. He then missed a game for the birth of his child, and he was then inactive for three straight games due to a back injury. Ramsey wound up playing for the Rams five days after the trade went through.

Ramsey has his history with getting contracts done and forcing his way out of certain places, and there is no doubt that he has provided Porter with some advice. The back injury could have been his idea as there is no real way to tell if the injury was legitimate. Ramsey has also clearly been on Porter's side throughout all of this as he even spoke to the media and stated that Porter needs to be paid. He called out the franchise for not paying him yet and even stated how valuable the young cornerback is to the secondary.

Steelers Are Heading Down A Dangerous Path

The Steelers essentially have to get an extension done with Porter before the season begins. There is no other option. The team doesn't normally conduct contractual business during the season, and using the franchise tag for the 2027 season would only make things worse. Not to mention the possibility of getting a long-term deal done next offseason is next to zero due to the fact that Quinyon Mitchell is likely going to reset the cornerback market once again. If a deal isn't reached by the start of the season, it is safe to assume that 2026 could be the end of Porter's time with Pittsburgh.

What do you think about the similarities between Porter's and Ramsey's situations? Let me know on X, @brogannoey!

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