Plenty of questions are swirling around Pittsburgh Steelers’ young cornerback Joey Porter Jr.
Porter and the Steelers were in a contract standoff all offseason, and he sat out Week 1 after being ruled inactive. However, head coach Mike McCarthy said earlier in the week that a plan was in place, with hopes of having him ready for Week 2.
Porter then left practice early on Thursday, and veteran linebacker Patrick Queen sent a strong message of support for the young cornerback.
“I’m with Joey, whatever he’s doing. Whether it’s injury, whether it’s contract, whatever it is, I respect it,” Queen said. “I’m behind him 100%. I tell him every single time, ‘I respect how you go about your business every single day.'”
“Joey, whether he’s going through, whether it’s injury or it’s contract stuff, I respect him 100%.”
— Chris Adamski (@C_AdamskiTrib) September 17, 2026
—Steelers ILB Patrick Queen on Joey Porter Jr pic.twitter.com/7xPBcWHPKa
It remains to be seen if Porter ends up playing for Week 2, and Thursday’s exit certainly raised more questions.
On Friday, Porter was on the field for team stretches.
Steelers CB Joey Porter Jr. did go through the stretch line a day after exiting practice early with trainers.
— Nick Farabaugh (@FarabaughFB) September 18, 2026
He did not do all that much during the period.
He was listed as NIR/conditiioning/back on Thursday's injury report.
One source told ESPN’s Brooke Pryor that they don’t know if “Porter ever puts on a Steelers uniform again.”
Regardless of what is happening with Joey Porter Jr., he has support from Patrick Queen.
