The Pittsburgh Steelers took care of their Week 1 matchup against the Atlanta Falcons, but star cornerback Joey Porter Jr. was not a part of it. Porter Jr. has been at an impasse with the organization regarding his contract situation. The hope was that he would return and suit up in the Black and Gold for the season opener. He has reportedly been dealing with an injury, but it seems like this might be an excuse to persuade the Steelers to pay him.
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Steelers' Joey Porter Jr. on the sidelines during training camp in 2026.
Porter Jr. had a breakout season in 2025 and is viewed as one of the better cornerbacks in the NFL. He is seeking a new contract from the Steelers, one that could potentially make him one of the highest-paid at his position in the league. The problem is that the organization has not been able to offer him a deal that lives up to his asking price. He missed the majority of the preseason, which was initially reported to be due to injury, but as the situation has dragged on, it seems that it is strictly contract-related.
During a recent episode of Kaboly + Mack, Steelers insider Mark Kaboly commented on this topic and explained why he thinks the question mark hovering over Porter Jr.'s availability is most likely related to the Steelers failing to sign him.
"From everything I know, [Joey] is not hurt," Kaboly stated. "He could have a tweak or something, but everything you hear is that he has been ramping up. He has missed so much time from his hold-in. No one in the organization believes he has a significant injury. It is just used as cover to help him out. I think it is on Porter that he didn't play. The information comes from the agent, and if it comes out that a team is willing to trade for him, it is used to try to push the Steelers to change their mind."
When contract disputes like this occur in the NFL, there are always a lot of different narratives. No one except the organization and Porter Jr.'s camp truly knows what is going on, but it is hard to see any other reason why Porter Jr. was not on the field during Week 1.
While Pittsburgh's defense turned in an impressive performance against the Falcons, highlighted by star linebacker TJ Watt's monster game, the team still desperately needs Porter Jr. on the field. He is easily the Steelers' best defensive back, and has continued to improve in the last couple of seasons.
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Pittsburgh Steelers star defenders Joey Porter Jr. (24) and Jalen Ramsey (5) during 2026 training camp at Saint Vincent College in Latrobe, PA.
There is a world where Porter Jr. truly is just ramping up from his reported preseason injury, and this would be best case scenario for the Steelers. As has been the organization's policy for decades now, Pittsburgh's front office refuses to negotiate contracts during the regular season. This is terrible news for Steelers fans, as Porter Jr. very well could miss the entire season or even be traded as the contract holdup continues.
Should The Steelers Give In?
As previously mentioned, Porter Jr. is Pittsburgh's best defensive back, and one of the most impactful players on the entire roster. It has been a long time since there has been a true No. 1, shutdown corner in the Steel City, and now is not the time to let him go. As usual, the Steelers have massive expectations this season and to meet them, Porter Jr. needs to play. The team does have decent depth at the position, but Porter Jr. is not easily replaceable. The worst part of this situation is that no one really knows what is going to happen.
There have been reports of all options being on the table, and the only one that puts the team in a good place to succeed ends with Porter Jr. signing a new deal during the season, something that is very unlikely. It will be interesting to see how this saga plays out, and if Pittsburgh will cave and pay its young star before it is too late.
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