The Pittsburgh Steelers lost to the Cleveland Browns in Week 4 by a score of 27-24, but about 24 hours prior to that result becoming final, the organization decided to make headlines and trade away star cornerback Joey Porter Jr. This seemed like a very likely outcome between the organization and Porter as the relationship between the two sides seemed to grow sour after no contract extension was agreed to before the start of the 2026 season. Porter then kept reporting that he was dealing with a back injury as he missed the first three games of the season, and Pittsburgh finally had enough and traded him to the Dallas Cowboys.
youtube / Dallas Cowboys
Former Steelers cornerback Joey Porter Jr. speaks to the media as a member of the Dallas Cowboys for the first time.
Ever since it was established that Porter probably wouldn't be playing in Pittsburgh without a new deal, the fan base turned on him. It is okay to be slightly upset with him for not taking the field while still being under contract for another season, but he hasn't received his big payday yet in the NFL. He didn't want to risk a serious injury that could hurt his value, and the organization is at fault for the way everything played out as well.
Defensive back Jalen Ramsey spoke to the media after the loss to the Browns, and he made that point clear.
"We held out hope for as long as we could, you know, that things would get done," Ramsey said. "That's part of it, that's business, right? Guys got to do what's best for them, because the NFL, it's not long. Everyone's not blessed to play 22 years and stuff, right? Especially in the secondary. Got to do what's best for you, and can never be mad at a man for doing that. I was in that situation before, I know it can leave a sour taste in people's mouths. The Steelers chose which route they wanted to go, as well. It’s not all on Joey. I know it’s easy for people to want to be mad at Joey. But it’s a business decision."
Ramsey clearly has his former teammate's back. He has been vocally supportive of Porter since training camp, and he wasn't going to stop now that he was traded. He made sure to note that this decision was made by Pittsburgh, and the franchise certainly deserves a good portion of the blame for the way things turned out.
Eric Canha / Imagn Images
Steelers defensive back Jalen Ramsey catches pass during pregame warmups against the Patriots in September 2026.
Ramsey mentioned that he had a similar situation, and he did back when he was with the Jacksonville Jaguars. He mentioned he had a back injury after the 2019 season had begun, and he was then traded to the Los Angeles Rams. He played out the final year of his rookie contract with the Rams, and he then signed a five-year deal worth $100 million. Porter is taking a similar route as he already said he would play without a new deal in Dallas, and he could be on the field for the Cowboys as early as Sunday against the Houston Texans.
Fans Argue Steelers Approached Joey Porter Jr. Situation Horribly
It has been reported that Porter and his camp felt disrespected by some of the offers that were coming their way from the organization, but that is usually a part of the natural cycle of negotiations in the NFL. The players will ask for more than they are worth, and the organization will throw back a low number, and the two sides eventually find a way to meet in the middle. That didn't happen with Porter.
The franchise had all offseason to take things seriously and get something done, but it has been speculated that the franchise waited until nearly the start of the 2026 season to make offers. That backed Porter up against the self-imposed deadline the Steelers have of the start of the regular season, which is when Porter probably decided he no longer wanted to wear the black and gold.
What do you think of Ramsey's comments? Let me know on X, @brogannoey!
#SteelerNation