ARLINGTON, Texas — The Dallas Cowboys ruled out cornerback Joey Porter Jr. with an illness Thursday night, about 1 hour, 45 minutes before kickoff against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at AT&T Stadium. It would have been his home debut.
Porter arrived at the stadium before he was examined and ruled out, The Associated Press reported. He was very sick when he arrived, and the Cowboys sent him home, NFL Network’s Jane Slater reported. NFL Network’s Mike Garofalo reported that Porter had been vomiting with a bad virus and was not in condition to play.
Porter was not on the injury report during the week. Cowboys sideline reporter Kristi Scales said on 105.3 The Fan before the announcement that Porter was not expected to have a snap count Thursday, A to Z Sports reported.
Joey Porter Jr. Ruled Out After Arriving Sick At AT&T Stadium
Dallas acquired Porter from the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sept. 30. He played 25 of 55 defensive snaps in Sunday’s 34-30 win at Houston, his first action of the season, and was not credited with a tackle. Porter had been inactive for Pittsburgh’s first three games while upset about his contract and dealing with a back issue, according to the AP.
Cowboys coach Brian Schottenheimer said Tuesday that Porter was way better this week than last week in his understanding of the defense and would probably play a little more against Tampa Bay. Porter had said his workload was up to the coaches. Porter talked this week about covering No. 1 receivers and his father’s trip to Houston.
Cowboys Turn To Shavon Revel Jr. Without Joey Porter Jr.
Without Porter, Dallas will likely start second-year cornerback Shavon Revel Jr., the AP reported. Revel has been dealing with knee and ankle injuries he suffered in the Week 3 loss to the Baltimore Ravens in Rio de Janeiro. He played seven defensive snaps in Houston.
Reddy Steward was elevated from the practice squad for the third straight game. He started at cornerback in Houston and made 4 tackles in 39 defensive snaps. Cornerbacks Ameer Speed and Caelen Carson are also active.
Cornerback Cobie Durant is inactive with a hamstring injury, and Schottenheimer said Monday the short week would probably cost him this game. Dallas’ other inactives are linebacker DeMarvion Overshown, outside linebacker James Houston IV, offensive linemen Ajani Cornelius and Drew Shelton, and wide receiver Camden Brown.
All-Pro left guard Tyler Smith is active after Dallas activated him from injured reserve
