The Pittsburgh Steelers are still trying to work through a star player looking for a new extension. There is no doubt that Joey Porter Jr. is upset about the fact that General Manager Omar Khan seems to have no desire to offer him anything beyond the upcoming season despite his great play. The team refuses to negotiate contracts once Week 1 kicks off, so the deadline to agree to any sort of deal is coming up very soon. If it doesn't work out, Pittsburgh could be in danger of losing a dynamic cornerback in 2027.
Jordan Schofield / SteelerNation (X: @JSKO_PHOTO)
Pittsburgh Steelers star defenders Joey Porter Jr. (24) and Jalen Ramsey (5) stand on the field as they watch their team workout during a 2026 training camp practice at Saint Vincent College in Latrobe, PA.
Porter previously said that he would not commit to playing in Week 1 without an extension, saying that it's up to his agent. It's unclear whether he was bluffing or not, but the lack of any reported progress prior to Labor Day would indicate that the Steelers are more than willing to call his bluff, as they expect him to suit up for all 17 games. Things may be on the rise, however.
During the first McCarthy Monday press conference, Head Coach Mike McCarthy was asked about these contract negotiations and his status for Week 1. While he tried to be vague about it, he did let a little something slip.
"We'll see what happens," McCarthy said. "It's a business. There are definitely business conversations going on."
These "business conversations" are about either of the two things mentioned above, or maybe both. He could be making a "business decision" by legitimately contemplating sitting out Week 1, or extension talks may finally be starting up. Active/inactive reports will come out 90 minutes before kickoff in Week 1, so we should know by then what exactly is going on.
Back on September 2nd, Khan and Porter were seen having a conversation on the practice field. The cornerback was smiling and nodding in the clip, so it doesn't appear that the two are currently on terrible terms. This is a good sign that there are negotiations going on, but nothing is confirmed as of now. At the very least, it's safe to say that they are on the same page and have some sort of understanding.
Steelers GM Omar Khan and Joey Porter Jr. having a conversation at practice. pic.twitter.com/KDk9JITXYg
— Mike DeFabo (@MikeDeFabo) September 2, 2026
While no deal has been reported yet, it seems like the drama is over and Porter is not a distraction to the team. He has been practicing ever since he was officially activated off of the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list. While he spoke about being unsure if he plays Week 1, the fact that he is practicing and had a good conversation with Khan indicates that he will take the field to begin the year.
Steelers Had To Deal With Rumors That Have Been False
When training camp began, it looked very suspicious that Khan never mentioned Porter suffering an injury before he was eventually placed on the PUP list. It didn't help that McCarthy kept speaking about this "impasse" while not talking about this supposed back injury that came up out of nowhere. Everything was pointing to this idea that the cornerback was on the list due to a hold-in with a fake injury.
Jordan Schofield / SteelerNation (X: @JSKO_PHOTO)
Steelers cornerback Joey Porter Jr. stands on the field as he smiles while looking on at the team practicing during a 2025 training camp workout at St. Vincent College in Latrobe, PA.
If Porter is actually having these negotiations now, maybe the injury was real. It makes sense for teams to not pay players while they are injured, so conversations could have started right away once he proved he was healthy. The defense definitely needs him and his elite press man abilities. Hopefully, him practicing is a good sign that he will get his bag and be in Pittsburgh for a long time to come.
What do you think about the latest Porter update? Let us know on X at @Steelers_ChrisB.
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