The Pittsburgh Steelers got a double shot of good injury news on Monday. Rookie offensive tackle Max Iheanachor returned to practice after missing north of two weeks with an injury sustained earlier in the month during training camp. Additionally, Jalen Ramsey was activated off the PUP list after not practicing at all in Latrobe.
Speaking to the media for the first time since returning, Ramsey went to bat for his teammate, Joey Porter Jr, who is currently seeking a contract extension ahead of the final
year on his rookie contract.
“We need the whole secondary,” Ramsey said via Nick Farabaugh of PennLive. “They need to pay Joey Porter Jr.”
Ramsey added that he is completely behind Porter and in his corner through the process.
“I’m overly in Joey’s corner,” Ramsey added via Jack Hillgrove. “Joey needs to get compensated for being a valuable part of this secondary and a valuable part of this defense and team.”
Earlier on Monday, head coach Mike McCarthy said that the team and Porter were at “an impasse” when it comes to contract talks.
”I learned this in my early years as a head coach, you have to separate the business and football. Sometimes it’s easier in others,” McCarthy said Monday.“ This is a challenge for both Joey and us because we’re first-year staff. We’ve seen them play, compete against Joey. I would love the opportunity to coach Joey Porter. I know our defensive guys would love the opportunity. So we’re at an impasse right here, and you got to respect that. Every one of us has a contract. The organization, they have beliefs and so forth. But yeah, that’s just kind of where we are.”
The Steelers traditionally do not negotiate contracts once the regular season begins. They could use the franchise tag on Porter ahead of free agency in March, which would give them another offseason to work out a long-term deal.
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