FRISCO, Texas — A week ago, Joey Porter Jr. was in Pittsburgh. The cornerback was set to make his home debut for the Dallas Cowboys on Thursday night against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers until the team ruled him out with an illness about 1 hour, 45 minutes before kickoff.
Dallas acquired Porter from the Pittsburgh Steelers last Wednesday. He played 25 of 55 defensive snaps in Sunday’s 34-30 win at Houston, his first action of the season. Before he got sick, Porter said earlier this week that things have moved fast and that he is still learning the playbook.
“Yeah, no, it’s a real feeling. Everything has been moving so fast, but I’m kind of starting to get in the hang of things, still honing in on the playbook and getting communication with the guys,” Porter said. “So everything has been running smooth so far. They’ve been embracing me from the jump, so all I can do is just be happy about that.”
Joey Porter Jr. Shares Cowboys Debut With His Father
His father, former Steelers linebacker Joey Porter, was at Reliant Stadium wearing his son’s Cowboys jersey.
“Man, he loved it. He loved it. He loved every minute of it. Like you said, he was just happy to watch me back out there and play football,” Porter said. “So when he got to see that, he was excited. So I was happy for him.”
His father was the first person he talked to after the game.
“Yeah, yeah, definitely. I talked to him after the game. He was the first person I was talking to. He was just fired up for me,” Porter explained. “He was just glad that I was back out there playing football again. And that’s really all you can ask for in a father.”
Before the game, his father’s main message was to be himself.
“It was great, finally talking to him in person. It was a great experience. He was just glad for me. He was just happy for me to be a Cowboy and finally put on a uniform,” Porter said. “And the main thing he just told me was be you and do what you do. So I told him I could definitely do that. And that was that for real.”
Porter Says Covering No. 1 Receivers Is ‘A Porter Thing’
Covering top receivers has been in Porter since he moved to cornerback as a kid.
“I think it was just built in me. I think [it’s a Porter thing]. That’s how my family and all of us look at it. I’ve been like that since I was a young kid ever since I moved to corner,” Porter said. “That’s what I’ve been looking for. So it’s nothing really new for me.”
Brian Schottenheimer Details Cowboys’ Plans For Joey Porter Jr.
Porter sees no limits on where he can line up. Dallas has used him as a boundary corner.
“Yeah, definitely. I feel like there’s no limits to what you can do with me on a football field,” Porter said. “At the end of the day, I feel like I’m a ball player. And with that, I feel like I can go anywhere and do what I do.”
Cowboys coach Brian Schottenheimer said Tuesday that Dallas can have Porter shadow a No. 1 receiver, but it does not usually do that and will not this soon. Houston moved Nico Collins around more than Dallas expected, and Collins caught a 45-yard pass on the game’s first snap.
“Yeah, we can do that. We don’t necessarily like to do that. They moved Nico around a little bit more than we thought they would. You obviously saw him in the slot the very first play of the game. They ran a nice little high-low concept on us. It’s a good scheme for them. But in reality, we’re more of a field-boundary team,” Schottenheimer said. “We can do that. You wouldn’t usually do that with someone that’s only been here less than a week. That’s part of our promise to Joey: we’re not going to put you in a position where you’re out there and you don’t know what to do, because he’s going to play hesitant.”
“He’s way better this week than he was last week in terms of understanding all the things we’re doing. He actually has a full week of meetings and prep. Is that something we can do in the future? Absolutely,” Schottenheimer continued. “But more than likely, when he’s in there, you’re going to see him in the boundary.”
Porter does not say much in practice, according to Schottenheimer, and he is intentional and competitive.
“Yeah, I think I mentioned last week, I love the way this guy practices, man. He doesn’t say much in practice. He just goes about his business and is very competitive, very intentional, and you see the talent. So I’m blown away by the guy. I really am,” Schottenheimer explained. “What he’s done coming in and having to learn and get thrown into the fire, if you will, has been incredible.”
When the team trusts him to lock in on a top receiver, Porter takes it as a test.
“Just being able to get that test, when the team gives you that ability to go out there and lock in on the number one guy, that means they really trust you out there,” Porter said. “So whenever I get that call, that’s an exciting task for me.”
Conditioning and the playbook were the biggest things coming in, and Porter worked on both this week.
“Yeah, definitely. I feel like that was the biggest thing coming in was the conditioning and also learning the playbook. And I feel like just honing in on both of those and preparing for this short week has been the main thing for us,” Porter said. “And it’s been going smooth so far with that.”
Porter’s Cowboys Home Debut Delayed By Illness
Earlier in the week, Porter said his workload Thursday was up to the coaches.
“I feel comfortable about that, but it’s all really up to the coaches and what they have for me,” Porter said. “I just got here not too long ago, so I’m still trying to learn everything and get the grasp of how things are run here, so it’s really up to them.”
Porter grew up watching his father in the spotlight. Thursday night was set to be his first prime-time game for Dallas.
“I mean, I think it’s going to be amazing. I think it’s going to be a great experience, especially Thursday night football. All eyes are on us, and I think I’m ready for that type of spotlight, so it’s gonna be amazing,” Porter said. “It’s nothing really new for me. My dad done it before and I’ve been seeing him doing it since a young age. So when I stepped into the spotlight, it wasn’t a shock or anything like that. So I feel like I’m just ready for these type of moments whenever you put me in them and I’m gonna do what I do best.”
Porter was not on the injury report during the week. He arrived at AT&T Stadium sick Thursday and was sent home. Dallas plays at the Green Bay Packers on Sunday, Oct. 18.
