Two weeks in, the Pittsburgh Steelers' offense has looked horrible. They managed just 20 points against a hobbled Falcons squad in Week 1, somehow still pulling out a win, then lost 20-3 to the Patriots in Week 2. The only reason it feels like they still have a shot is that their defense is elite, and they still don't even have one of their best defenders yet, Joey Porter Jr.
Porter spoke with reporters Thursday and addressed where things stand between him and the organization as the star cornerback pushes for a new contract. That's really just old news for me now," Porter said when asked about not yet receiving an extension. "I'm just focused on what I got ahead of me and really just getting back to 100%." When asked if he sees himself playing at some point, Porter responded, "Yeah, definitely." More news: Nick Chubb Set for Emotional Return to Cleveland to Retire as a Brown A deal was supposed to get done with Porter before the start of the regular season.
That didn't happen, and Porter sat out both of the team's first two games. Part of the reason is reportedly a back injury he aggravated in training camp, but there's no doubt the situation is also contract-related. Porter was the Steelers' second-round pick (No. 32 overall) in 2023, and he's already watched several of his draft classmates land new deals, including Christian Gonzalez and Devon Witherspoon, who are now the two highest-paid cornerbacks in the league.
The difference is that Gonzalez and Witherspoon were both first-round picks, and their teams already exercised their fifth-year options, keeping them under contract through the 2027 season. Since Porter was a second-round pick, this is the final year of his rookie contract, after which he'll become an unrestricted free agent. A wild situation considering he's widely regarded as one of the top young corners in the NFL.
More news: Ja’Marr Chase Blasts NFL Over Punishment for Unusual TD Celebration More news: Sean McVay Reveals Troubling Update on Puka Nacua’s Injury Trade rumors have swirled in recent weeks given that an extension still hasn't gotten done, and as more injuries pop up around the league, it may only be a matter of time before Porter finds a new team, or the Steelers feel enough pressure to lock down their star cornerback.
Extract — continue reading at the source.
