Joey Porter Jr.’s status in Pittsburgh already feels shaky, and the trade chatter around the Steelers cornerback is getting louder by the day.
Porter was inactive for Pittsburgh’s season-opening win over the Falcons on Sunday because of a back injury, but even once he’s healthy, it’s still unclear whether he’ll be back in a Steelers uniform. With Porter and the team unable to come together on a contract extension, ESPN’s Ian Rapoport and Adam Schefter reported that an “early-season trade is possible.”
That possibility has real weight because Porter is still only 26 and brings the kind of talent that can line up with the league’s best wideouts. He also still has room to grow, which makes him an appealing name if Pittsburgh decides to move him. The catch, according to Rapoport and Schefter, is that the Steelers want a “premium draft pick” in return.
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler named five teams that could make sense if Pittsburgh does deal him: the Cowboys, Lions, Saints, Jets and 49ers.
Dallas stands out as the most intriguing name on that list. Fowler pointed to the recent trade history between the two teams and the working relationship between the front offices.
“The franchise has trade-market rapport with Pittsburgh GM Omar Khan,” Fowler wrote. “The sides have reached deals in back-to-back offseasons, as Dallas traded for wide receiver George Pickens in May 2025 and offensive tackle Broderick Jones on Aug. 29.
“Dallas did not discuss Porter with Pittsburgh at the time of the Jones trade. But that would be an easy call for the Cowboys to make if interested.”
San Francisco also looks like a strong fit from a financial standpoint. Fowler noted that the 49ers have more than $45 million in cap space, so money wouldn’t be the obstacle.
“The 49ers' cornerback rotation looked stout Thursday against the Los Angeles Rams, but seasons are long and Porter would help the defense immensely. ... Porter opposite Deommodore Lenoir would form a stout 1-2 cornerback combo,” Fowler wrote.
Porter is still on the Steelers’ roster for now, but the rumors are strong enough that a midseason move would not come as a surprise.
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For Dallas fans, the bigger picture is how common this kind of move has become across the league, with the Stars among several clubs making PTO signings of their own this time of year. It is the sort of transaction that rarely dominates headlines, but can still matter once the games start and injuries, roster battles, and camp performances begin sorting out who sticks. There is always a layer of intrigue with these deals, especially when a team gives a veteran a familiar kind of opportunity and leaves open the question of whether he can turn it into something more. [Read more 🡒]
Stars Give A Familiar Defenseman Another Shot To Stick
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Gleason has spent most of his career in the AHL, moving through different stops while trying to carve out a longer look at the top level. He most recently signed a one-year, two-way deal with the Minnesota Wild in July, so this latest PTO gives him another chance to show he can still earn a place in a crowded defense mix, even if the final call will depend on how much he can separate himself over the next stretch. [Read more 🡒]
Jim Nill Tries To Calm Two Growing Stars Concerns
The Stars have spent the fall trying to keep the focus on hockey, even as questions around a pair of core pieces have started to build. General manager Jim Nill said there have been no extension discussions with Jason Robertsons camp yet, and the reason is straightforward: league rules keep those talks off-limits until Jan. 1. Robertson already went through a tense contract stretch, filing for salary arbitration before settling on a one-year deal, which only sharpened the sense that his next long-term step will become a major storyline for Dallas.
Thomas Harley has become part of that conversation, too, after Dallas failed pursuit of Zach Werenski briefly put the young defenseman in the spotlight. Nill made it clear Harley remains important to the club, a reminder that the Stars are trying to balance present contention with the need to protect their emerging talent. For a team built to win now, keeping both Robertson and Harley on the same page may end up mattering just as much as anything that happens on the ice. [Read more 🡒]