‘A Big Week For Him’: Dallas Cowboys’ Joey Porter Jr. Battles Ankle Injury A Month After Trade From Pittsburgh Steelers
FRISCO, Texas — Dallas Cowboys coach Brian Schottenheimer said Monday that this week will show how close cornerback Joey Porter Jr. is to playing through an ankle injury. Porter was in and out of the lineup during Sunday’s 33-30 overtime loss to the Arizona Cardinals and threw his helmet in frustration at one point.
Porter is getting a series of tests on the ankle. Schottenheimer said the cornerback is trying to battle through it and that his frustration is understandable.
“Yeah, he’s trying to battle through it,” Schottenheimer said. “He’s getting a bunch of tests done, things like that, and we’re hopeful. But as a competitor, you understand why there would be frustration.”
Joey Porter Jr. ‘Trying To Battle Through’ Ankle Injury
Porter’s ankle is one of five injuries Schottenheimer updated Monday. Defensive backs Caleb Downs and P.J. Locke are both in the concussion protocol after Sunday, and tight end Jake Ferguson and rookie outside linebacker Malachi Lawrence also have ankle injuries.
The Cowboys acquired Porter from the Pittsburgh Steelers on Oct. 1 for a 2028 second-round pick and a 2027 sixth-round pick. He had missed Pittsburgh’s first three games while seeking a contract extension and is in the final year of his rookie deal. Pittsburgh drafted him 32nd overall in 2023, and he played 47 games with 41 starts for the Steelers.
Coaches and the front office watch cut-ups together on trade targets, according to Schottenheimer, though the front office drives deals during the season. This week will be telling for Porter, in his view.
“Yeah, we’re all involved,” Schottenheimer explained. “We watch cut-ups together. We talk about it. They certainly do a great job of driving those during the season because we’re busy with game planning and things like that. But no, we have constant communication with that, and I feel great about the process. We’ll see this week. This week will be a big week for him to see how close he is.”
Stephen Jones Calls Porter Latest Example Of Dallas Cowboys Adding Help
Cowboys COO and executive vice president Stephen Jones spoke Monday on 105.3 The Fan’s “K&C Masterpiece”, a week before the Nov. 10 NFL trade deadline. Jones said Dallas has been consistent about adding players who can help, and he named Porter as the most recent one.
“Yeah, we’ve always been consistent,” Jones said. “If we can find a player that we feel like can help us, I think we’ve done it throughout the offseason this year as well as into the season, with the last one, of course, being Joey Porter. But we’re always open to looking at making our team better.”
Dallas is 3-5 and visits the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday, Nov. 8, at Lucas Oil Stadium. Kickoff is set for noon CT on FOX.
