There were several former Pittsburgh Steelers who have new homes in 2026, and unfortunately, cornerback Joey Porter Jr. is among these players.
Porter was traded from the Steelers to the Dallas Cowboys following an ugly contract standoff that kept him away from the field through training camp, the entire preseason, and Pittsburgh's first three games of the 2026 season. Despite the injury uncertainty and drama surrounding his Steelers exit, Porter didn't waste any time getting back on the field for his new team.
We at Steelers Wire decided to analyze his performance from his Cowboys debut and what it could mean for the rest of his 2026 season.
Joey Porter Jr.'s Week 4 performance
Porter's debut with the Cowboys — just 20 coverage snaps and five run-defense snaps — was relatively quiet.
He didn't allow any receptions or yards, but before Cowboys supporters attempt to laud him for his level of play, Porter was only targeted once.
What to expect from Joey Porter Jr. moving forward
It's easy to be a successful cornerback when the defense you play for has such high-level talent in the pass-rush department like Porter had with former Steelers teammates T.J. Watt, Alex Highsmith, Nick Herbig, and Cameron Heyward. But believing Porter will automatically find the same success in a new scheme with a less talented defensive roster may be wishful thinking. Porter allowed just one touchdown during his three years with the Steelers, but don't be surprised if the young corner surrenders a few during his debut season with Dallas.
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This article originally appeared on Steelers Wire: How did former Steelers CB Joey Porter Jr. perform in first Cowboys game?
