The Cowboys head into Week 9 with Joey Porter Jr.’s status hanging over their trip to Indianapolis.
Porter has been battling an ankle injury since arriving in Dallas in a trade with the Pittsburgh Steelers, and the issue flared up again last week against the Arizona Cardinals, forcing him out of that game. He looked like he might be trending the right way early in the week after a full practice on Wednesday, but that momentum didn’t last. Porter was limited on Thursday, stayed limited to finish the week, and ended up with a questionable designation for the matchup with the Indianapolis Colts.
There are reasons to think he could still suit up. Porter did manage to get on the practice field all week, even if the workload dipped late.
He’s also been through a similar path before. In Week 6, he logged two limited practices and one full session before playing against the Green Bay Packers.
The fact that he traveled with the Cowboys to Indy only adds to the sense that he may be available. The bigger question is how much he can actually give them if he does play. That’s been the issue throughout his Dallas stint, with the ankle keeping him from handling a full workload.
If Porter can’t go, Cobie Durant should slide into the boundary role. Ameer Speed and/or Shavon Revel could also see more snaps.
Durant, who was signed in free agency, was considered the Cowboys’ top corner before Porter arrived, and his numbers support that view. Over four games, Durant has allowed a 50% completion rate and a 50.8 passer rating.
Porter’s production, when he’s been on the field, has been exactly what Dallas hoped for. In four games with the Cowboys, he has allowed just a 30% completion rate and a 39.6 passer rating when targeted. Pro Football Focus has his coverage grade at 71.2, which ranks 20th among cornerbacks.
Still, the snap counts tell the story of the concern. Porter played 77.3% of the snaps in Week 7, then dropped to 44.4% in Week 8. He has been at 48% or lower in three of his four games.
With Dallas’ defense struggling this season, the Cowboys need more from him - and they need it badly.
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