Steelers and cornerback Joey Porter Jr. at contract impasse
Steelers head coach Mike McCarthy said the team and Joey Porter Jr. remain at an impasse over a new contract as the cornerback stays on the PUP list with a back issue.
Mike McCarthy said the Pittsburgh Steelers and fourth-year cornerback Joey Porter Jr. are at an "impasse" as they negotiate a new contract. Porter was placed on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list at the start of training camp because of a back problem that resurfaced during a mobility test, keeping him out of practice ahead of the season opener against Atlanta.
"I learned this in my early years as a head coach, you have to separate the business from the football," McCarthy said. "Sometimes it’s easier than others."
Porter, 26, is entering the final year of the four-year rookie deal he signed after being selected by the Steelers with the first pick of the second round in 2023. He has three interceptions in three seasons and believes he is among the top players at his position, seeking a contract that reflects that view.
The cornerback market has been active, with recent extensions for Seattle’s Devon Witherspoon and New England’s Christian Gonzalez. While Porter’s numbers are not yet at that level, his deep Pittsburgh roots—growing up in the city while his father, former Steelers linebacker Joey Porter Sr., played and coached—add context to the negotiations.
During minicamp in June, Porter participated only in individual drills, a tactic sometimes used by players pursuing new deals. McCarthy noted the challenge of the situation, adding that the entire defensive staff is in its first season.
"Every one of us has a contract. The organization, they have beliefs and so forth. So that's where we are," McCarthy said.
Veteran defensive back Jalen Ramsey, also on the PUP list with a knee injury, said the secondary needs to be fully available when the Falcons visit on Sept. 13. Rookie offensive tackle Max Iheanachor, who missed practice after an upper-body injury, may see action in the preseason finale.
"They need to pay Joey Porter," Ramsey said.
McCarthy said the upcoming padded practices will provide a clearer picture of Iheanachor’s readiness for the final preseason game.