As the Pittsburgh Steelers prepare for their season opener against the Atlanta Falcons, uncertainty surrounds cornerback Joey Porter Jr. While Porter has recently been activated off the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list, contract negotiations between his camp and the front office remain locked in a high-stakes standoff.
ESPN reporter Brooke Pryor highlighted the mixed signals coming from Porter during a recent media session. Pryor shared her reaction on NFL Network’s “Good Morning Football.”
“Well, it depends on when you ask him. Sometimes changes within the span of the same five-minute media scrum. When we talked with him the other day for the first time since he was activated off PUP on Sunday, he was asked if he would play if healthy,
if ready to go against the Falcons, and he said, ‘Yeah, definitely.’ Then he paused for a second and said, ‘maybe.’ So I don’t know that Joey knows what he’s going to do,” stated Pryor.
"I don't know that Joey knows what he's going to do" 🤔@bepryor on Steelers CB Joey Porter Jr. still seeking a new contract pic.twitter.com/UDTIezEACq
— Good Morning Football (@gmfb) September 3, 2026
The ambiguity stems from the Steelers’ long-standing, decades-old policy - the organization does not negotiate player contracts once the regular season officially kicks off. This policy sets a strict deadline.
Pryor pointed out that Pittsburgh will continue talks right up until the last moment, with past deals famously coming together as players boarded team flights.
As Pryor noted, negotiations can go "up to 11:59 on the 12-hour clock right before kickoff."
Pryor believes that both sides are firmly dug in; however, signs of progress are emerging. Porter has returned to the field, participating in individual drills and ramp-up activities. He remains an active participant in team meetings and continues to receive strong backing from his teammates.
With neither side eager to blink first, the next few days will determine whether a late-hour compromise can be struck or if Pittsburgh will take the field without one of its key defensive assets.
This article originally appeared on Steelers Wire: Steelers Standoff: Even Joey Porter Jr. isn't sure of his next move
