The Steelers’ Joey Porter Jr. situation is still hanging in the air as Pittsburgh turns its attention to a Week 3 matchup with the Cincinnati Bengals, and head coach Mike McCarthy didn’t offer much certainty when asked where things stand.
Porter Jr. has already missed the first two games of the season, appearing on the injury report with both a back injury and an “NIR/conditioning” designation before the Week 2 loss to the New England Patriots. His back has been an issue since the start of training camp, when it landed him on the PUP list.
McCarthy said the latest setback came after the injury flared up in practice.
"Joey's in this situation where he had a back thing that flared up in practice, and we're taking a look at it. He'll be evaluated on Wednesday and see what he can do in practice come Wednesday," McCarthy said.
That update comes after McCarthy had suggested following Pittsburgh’s Week 1 win over the Atlanta Falcons that Porter Jr. was moving toward a bigger workload in practice. Instead, that progress never really showed up. He was limited again all last week, just as he had been in the build-up to the season opener.
That lines up with the report that Porter Jr. left practice with a trainer on September 17.
For now, the key question is simple: how much can he do once the Steelers get back on the field, and what does that mean for his status against Joe Burrow, Ja’Marr Chase, Tee Higgins and the Bengals at Acrisure Stadium?
The contract side of this story is still there, too. Porter Jr. and the Steelers are not expected to reach an extension anytime soon, since the team is against negotiating in-season.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that Porter Jr. has considered getting a second opinion on his back. Schefter also said the Steelers are planning on him to "potentially return" vs. Cincinnati, though that still doesn’t guarantee he’ll be active.
CBS Sports’ Tracy Wolfson reported before Pittsburgh’s game against the Patriots that someone inside the organization told her Porter Jr. had been cleared of his back injury and is "expected to be in good enough football shape," with the final call on playing left to him.
So the situation remains unresolved. Whether Porter Jr. is on the field in Week 3 or not, the Steelers need some movement here soon, because this is one of those issues that can’t keep drifting from week to week.
In Other News...
Bengals Suddenly Have A Veteran QB Question Fans Can't Ignore
The quarterback ripple effect from Jaxson Darts left knee injury has reached well beyond New York, and it has put an old familiar name back into the conversation. With Darts status now looking far less certain after further testing, the Giants have turned to Jameis Winston for the moment while also weighing longer-term answers, a situation that inevitably brings veteran depth and stability into focus around the league.
For Bengals fans, the detail worth watching is Joe Flaccos place in that discussion. His name has surfaced as a possible option because of his experience and his connection with head coach John Harbaugh, but there has been no official indication of a pursuit yet. Still, whenever a proven veteran quarterback enters the market, it tends to create a few moments of pause for teams and fans alike, especially when the leagues quarterback picture starts shifting this quickly. [Read more 🡒]
Joe Burrows Week 3 Status Just Became The Bengals Biggest Concern
Joe Burrow was back on the practice field Thursday as a full participant, giving the Bengals at least a measure of relief after a week in which their quarterback was limited by a back injury. Zac Taylor said Burrow was sore, but he did not appear to be in pain during the session, a notable development after Burrow took several hits in the Week 2 loss to the Houston Texans.
Still, Cincinnati is hardly out of the woods heading into the Week 3 game against the Steelers. Burrows availability has quickly become the teams biggest concern, because even when he is practicing, the Bengals have to monitor how his back responds and whether he can hold up through Sundays physical matchup. [Read more 🡒]
Bengals Suddenly Have A New Health Worry Before AFC North Test
The Bengals already had enough to manage heading into an AFC North test, and now they are also down another piece of receiver depth after Andrei Iosivas was placed on injured reserve. Iosivas tore a ligament in his thumb during the game against the Texans and had surgery, a setback that will keep him out for at least four games and forces Cincinnati to adjust again on offense.
Zac Taylor tried to steady the picture by offering a broader health update, including on Joe Burrow, who is sore but is still expected to play. Even so, the timing is hardly ideal for a team trying to navigate a division matchup with its margin for error shrinking and its injury list growing at the wrong moment. [Read more 🡒]