Dallas had high hopes for the second ever Cowboys contest for newly acquired cornerback Joey Porter, Jr. After sending a 2027 second-round pick to the Pittsburgh Steelers, the club marched him out against the Houston Texans on short prep. On a limited snap count, Porter impressed as expected, not allowing a reception and only being tested once by Houston QB CJ Stroud.
But he won't be available for an extended second act, as an illness has forced him out of the lineup, and out of the stadium. Per NFL Network's Jane Slater, team officials have sent Porter home after he was showing significant sickness symptoms when he arrived at AT&T Stadium.
So I talked to another #Cowboys team source who just told me Joey Porter Jr. was “very sick” when he arrived
to the facility and the team sent him home.
— Jane Slater (@SlaterNFL) October 8, 2026
Dallas is without Cobie Durant, leaving DaRon Bland and Shavon Revel as the primary outside cornerbacks for Christian Parker's beleaguered defensive unit.
I’m told Porter has been vomiting with a bad virus. Just not in a condition to play tonight for the #Cowboys, as @SlaterNFL indicated. https://t.co/cKcNq7c33g
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) October 8, 2026
The Cowboys are looking to win two games in a row for the first time this season. They won't get any sympathy from the Buccaneers, though. Tampa Bay is playing without quarterback Baker Mayfield, and secondary leader Antoine Winfield. They'll be trying to avoid starting the season 0-5, and would love to upset the Cowboys on national primetime televsion with rookie backup QB Jalon Daniels.
The Cowboys are trying to establish themselves as contenders for the NFC East title.
This article originally appeared on Cowboys Wire: Cowboys 'sent him home', CB Joey Porter not playing tonight vs Bucs
