Joey Porter Jr. has turned a lingering Steelers storyline into an even bigger one.
With quarterback chatter, a new coaching staff, and a few rookie surprises grabbing attention all summer, Porter’s situation has stayed stubbornly in the spotlight. The reason is simple: the Steelers still haven’t locked him up, and with the regular season less than two weeks away, there’s no sign the standoff is close to ending.
Porter has been on the PUP (Physically Unable to Perform) list since the start of camp because of a back injury, and fans have been waiting to see whether Pittsburgh would extend him the same way it did several of its other 2023 draftees earlier this summer. Tuesday’s comments didn’t exactly calm anyone down.
Asked about whether he would play in Week 1 if no deal gets done, Porter didn’t offer much certainty. “I don’t know," Porter told the media at Steelers practice. "I have to talk to the guys upstairs, my agents about that one.”
That answer says plenty on its own. Porter has every reason to avoid giving away leverage, but the Steelers also aren’t the kind of team to negotiate during the season. That makes the idea of him actually sitting out feel far-fetched, even if he’s leaving the door open.
There’s also a practical side to this that makes a holdout hard to imagine. Porter would be giving up another full season of strong film, and he’d be doing it on what might be the best defense he’s played on. On top of that, his contract would toll if he didn’t return by Week 10.
Porter also made it clear where he thinks the pressure belongs. When asked how likely it is that a deal gets done before the season, he pointed the conversation back upstairs.
"I mean, I could hope and think all day," Porter told reporters. "But really, it's up to those guys upstairs and what they want to do with this team. So all I could do is just show up every day to work and be prepared."
That sounds like a player who has a number in mind and would be happy to get back to business if the Steelers meet it. It also sounds like a front office that may not be ready to go there yet. For now, the uncertainty keeps hanging over one of Pittsburgh’s biggest young names.
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