Brooke Pryor
Multiple Authors
PITTSBURGH — Coach Mike McCarthy mentioned the Pittsburgh Steelers are at an “impasse” with Joey Porter Jr. because the cornerback stays sidelined on the bodily unable to carry out listing.
Porter, who was positioned on the PUP listing after aggravating a again harm throughout the crew’s mobility exercise on the primary day of coaching camp, is in line for an extension as he enters the ultimate 12 months of his contract. He was current for some OTAs and obligatory minicamp however did not take part in drills throughout the parts open to media. He has additionally been at coaching camp practices, usually standing on the sideline with defensive again Jalen Ramsey, who was activated off the PUP listing Monday.
Asked earlier than Monday’s apply when he would wish to see Porter on the sphere to really feel snug enjoying him Week 1, McCarthy started his reply by mentioning the actual challenges of Porter’s state of affairs.
“I learned this in my early years as a head coach: You have to separate the business and football,” McCarthy mentioned. “Sometimes it’s easier than others. This is a challenge for both Joey and us because we’re first-year staff. We’ve seen them play, compete against Joey.
“I might love the chance to educate Joey Porter. I do know our defensive guys would love the chance. So we’re at an deadlock proper right here, and you have to respect that. Every one in every of us has a contract. The group, they’ve beliefs and so forth. But yeah, that is simply form of the place we’re.”
Ramsey, speaking for the first time in months, brought up Porter’s contract situation unprompted when asked about the defense.
“We want the entire secondary on the market,” Ramsey said. “They obtained to pay Joey Porter, and we’d like obtained another guys which might be out as effectively. So the secondary has not been on the market collectively but, so I am unable to reply that for you.”
Asked if he has been in Porter’s corner during the process, Ramsey was firm.
“I’m overly in Joey’s nook,” Ramsey said. “Joey must get compensated for being a invaluable a part of this secondary and a invaluable a part of this protection and crew.”
Inside linebacker Patrick Queen, who signed a three-year, $41 million contract with the Steelers in 2024, also voiced his support for Porter when asked about the separation of business and football.
“I obtained my cash, so at the top of the day I might solely be completely satisfied if he get his,” Queen said. “But he deserves it. We all love Joey. We nonetheless speak to him. He’s one of many coolest guys within the locker room. Easy to get alongside with. And simply watching him from afar, then coming and being his teammate, he is been a baller and I simply hope he will get paid.”
Porter, drafted by the Steelers with the first pick of the second round in 2023, has been a consistent starter since his rookie season. He has recorded an interception in each of his three years, and in 2025 he also picked up a sack, 14 passes defensed and 52 tackles. Defensive coordinator Patrick Graham said that Porter has been “engaged” in the classroom during his stint on PUP and that as DC it’s his job to get Porter and Ramsey ready for the season.
“They’re actually good soccer gamers,” Graham said Saturday. “If they go into the common season, they will apply at some level.
“When they get to practice, they get to practice. But that’s our job to get them prepared.”
As a corporation, the Steelers have lengthy maintained that they do not negotiate contracts as soon as the common season begins. Despite the upcoming deadline, a supply informed ESPN that there hasn’t been significant progress on extension talks. The Steelers additionally have not made or acquired any commerce calls on Porter, the supply added.
Porter, who was one of many few gamers current at McCarthy’s introductory information convention in January, final spoke with the media at minicamp in June and mentioned then that he believed he has been a “lead” nook within the NFL since arriving in Pittsburgh and ought to be compensated as such.
“Definitely,” Porter mentioned. “I feel like I was the lead guy since I’ve been in this league, and I’m happy that I’m getting the respect that I feel like I’m owed.”