Steelers and cornerback Joey Porter Jr. at stalemate over contract amid injury
Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike McCarthy said the team has reached an impasse with Joey Porter Jr., who remains on the physically unable to perform list while contract extension talks stall.
Coach Mike McCarthy said the Pittsburgh Steelers are at an impasse with cornerback Joey Porter Jr., who continues to sit on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list after aggravating a back injury during the first day of training camp. Porter, a second-round pick in 2023 who has started every game of his three-year career, is entering the final year of his contract and is reportedly due for an extension.
Porter attended some organized team activities and mandatory minicamp but did not take part in on-field drills open to the media. He has been present at training-camp practices, often watching from the sideline alongside defensive back Jalen Ramsey, who was activated from the PUP list on Monday.
When asked when he would need to see Porter on the field to feel comfortable starting him in Week 1, McCarthy replied, "I learned this in my early years as a head coach: You have to separate the business and football. Sometimes it's easier than others. This is a challenge for both Joey and us because we're first-year staff. We've seen them play, compete against Joey. I would love the opportunity to coach Joey Porter. I know our defensive guys would love the opportunity. So we're at an impasse right here, and you've got to respect that. Every one of us has a contract. The organization, they have beliefs and so forth. But yeah, that's just kind of where we are."
Defensive coordinator Patrick Graham said Porter has remained engaged in the classroom during his PUP stint and that the staff’s job is to prepare him and Ramsey for the season, adding, "They're really good football players. If they go into the regular season, they're going to practice at some point. When they get to practice, they get to practice. But that's our job to get them prepared."
The Steelers traditionally avoid negotiating contracts after the regular season begins. A source familiar with the situation said no substantive progress has been made on an extension and no trade offers have been received. Porter, who attended McCarthy’s introductory press conference in January, previously told reporters he considered himself a leading corner in the league and expected compensation reflecting that status.