PITTSBURGH – The Steelers will once again not have their top cornerback available for their NFL Week 3 game against the Cincinnati Bengals on Sept. 27 at Acrisure Stadium.
The team announced pre-game that Joey Porter Jr. will be inactive for a third consecutive week to start the season. He was listed as questionable on the injury report all week under a "not injury related/conditioning" designation.
Porter is listed as inactive with a back injury.
The fourth-year cornerback missed most of training camp, the preseason and then the first two weeks of the season with a back injury. In the background, his failed contract talks with the team have loomed large over his absence.
Jr. drama finally end?
Porter is in the final year of his rookie contract and did not reach a long-term extension before the team-imposed Week 1 deadline. The Steelers do not negotiate contracts during the season, putting the two sides at an impasse.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported Sunday that the Dallas Cowboys and Detroit Lions have made trade inquiries.
“The Steelers would be willing to listen to trade offers for Porter, according to sources, but they would want a strong compensation package if they were to deal the fourth-year star,” Schefter wrote.
Elsewhere on the injury front, receiver Michael Pittman Jr. (foot), running back Jaylen Warren (shoulder) and cornerback Jamel Dean (ankle) are all active after being listed as questionable with various injuries throughout the week.
Running back Rico Dowdle is the other notable name that will miss the game. He is out with a toe injury sustained in the Week 2 loss at New England.
Earlier in the week, third-round NFL draft pick and guard Gennings Dunker was placed on injured reserve.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Steelers' Joey Porter Jr. is inactive vs Bengals as trade rumors swirl
