Joey Porter Jr.’s future in Pittsburgh is suddenly one of the early storylines of the season.
The Steelers cornerback was inactive for Sunday’s season-opening win over the Falcons because of a back injury, and even after he’s fully recovered, it’s not clear he’ll be back in black and gold. Porter and the Steelers have not been able to agree on a contract extension, and ESPN’s Ian Rapoport and Adam Schefter reported that an “early-season trade is possible.”
At 26, Porter still checks a lot of boxes for teams looking for help on the back end. He can line up against top receivers and still has room to grow, which is part of why he’s viewed as such a strong trade candidate. But Pittsburgh is reportedly aiming high, with Rapoport and Schefter saying the Steelers would want a “premium draft pick” in return.
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler pointed to five teams that could make sense if Pittsburgh decides to move him: the Cowboys, Lions, Saints, Jets and 49ers.
Dallas stands out because of its recent history of doing business with Pittsburgh. Fowler noted that “The franchise has trade-market rapport with Pittsburgh GM Omar Khan,” adding that the teams have completed deals in back-to-back offseasons, with Dallas landing 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 is another name to watch, especially because of the financial flexibility. Fowler pointed out that the 49ers have more than $45 million in cap space, which would make Porter’s salary easier to absorb.
“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 it wouldn’t be a surprise if he’s wearing a different uniform before long.
In Other News...
Zac Alley Just Put West Virginias Biggest Defensive Concern On Blast
Communication is now the first thing West Virginias defense has to clean up, and defensive coordinator Zac Alley made that point clear after the recent game. For a unit that has spent the early part of the year trying to find consistency, Alley said the biggest issue was not a lack of effort so much as getting the call to travel cleanly from the sideline to the field and back among the players once the offense started shifting looks.
The challenge ahead is sharper than just lining up correctly. Alley pointed to formation changes and motion as the moments that exposed the problem, which means the Mountaineers will spend the coming stretch focused on anticipating what is coming instead of reacting late. If that communication improves, so does the chance for the defense to look like a unit playing with confidence rather than one constantly sorting out the details. [Read more 🡒]
Backyard Brawl Is Getting A Stage WVU Fans Will Love
West Virginias basketball presence in the Pittsburgh area is getting a bigger platform, with Mountaineers players, coach Ross Hodge and athletic director Wren Baker helping promote the inaugural Hope Gas Backyard Basketball Classic. Set for Dec. 9, 2026, at PPG Paints Arena, the event brings together four Division I programs in one building and gives the region a rare, full-day showcase of local college hoops.
For WVU fans, the centerpiece is exactly the kind of stage the Backyard Brawl can thrive on. The doubleheader will feature Pitt, West Virginia, Duquesne and Robert Morris, with the Pitt-WVU matchup serving as the headliner in a setting designed to make the rivalry feel even bigger. It is another reminder that this series can still command attention well beyond the usual calendar date, and this one already has the makings of a marquee trip for Mountaineer supporters. [Read more 🡒]
WVU Suddenly Has A D-Line Problem After Darius Wiley Blow
West Virginias defensive front took a major hit in the season opener when Darius Wiley suffered a lower-body injury against Coastal Carolina and later underwent successful surgery. Rich Rodriguez said Wiley is done for the season, and the recovery timetable stretches well beyond this fall, leaving the Mountaineers to adjust quickly on a unit that already had little room for error.
Emerson Joy, Wilnerson Telemaque and Brandon Caesar are among the players now being asked to absorb more of the workload, and the question is how much the line can hold up while the roster reshuffles around such a significant absence. For a defense trying to settle in early, losing a piece like Wiley so soon forces West Virginia to find answers on the fly, and the ripple effect could linger deep into the year. [Read more 🡒]