FRISCO, Texas — Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Joey Porter Jr. is unlikely to play Sunday against the Atlanta Falcons because of a back injury, and the possibility of a trade remains in play, Adam Schefter of ESPN and Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reported Sunday morning.
Porter had already requested a trade and is open to playing elsewhere, per Schefter and Rapoport, who reported that an early-season deal is very possible. Pittsburgh has been open to listening to offers. The asking price is a premium draft pick, possibly a first-rounder, and no serious trade talks have developed at that number.
The two sides negotiated up until the day before the season without reaching an extension. Pittsburgh does not negotiate contracts once the season begins.
Five days before the report, Jerry Jones made his first weekly radio appearance of the season on 105.3 The Fan and was asked about adding to the roster.
“The best way for me to answer that is not timing wise, right on something this morning or this week, but if you look at it generally speaking, we’re in play,” Jones said. “And that’s the best way to describe it.”
Jones also addressed the money.
“The timing is conspicuously obvious. We could use it for this year’s team. The cap is fungible; it laps over into multi-years, 3 or 4 on parts that you make available,” Jones said. “That’s hard to put your finger on. But that does show that we have really viable, serious room financially to make a trade if we wanted to right now.”
The Dallas Cowboys created a little more than $19 million in cap space last week by restructuring the contracts of Kenny Clark, DaRon Bland, and tight end Jake Ferguson. Dallas holds five picks in the 2027 draft. The trade deadline is Nov. 10.
Joey Porter Jr.’s Contract Standoff With The Pittsburgh Steelers
Porter went on the physically unable to perform list on July 28 with the back injury, missed all of training camp and the entire preseason, and came off the list on Aug. 30. He resumed practicing on Sept. 1 and was limited every day this week. Pittsburgh elevated cornerback Doneiko Slaughter from the practice squad on Saturday.
Steelers coach Mike McCarthy said Porter is working through the ramp-up stage.
Asked earlier in the week whether he would play in the opener, Porter told reporters he did not know.
“I don’t know,” Porter said. “I would have to talk to the guys upstairs and my agents about that one.”
Porter was asked again Friday, this time about whether the contract situation had changed how he feels about staying in Pittsburgh long term.
“No, I don’t think so,” Porter said. “I mean, at the end of the day it’s business, and I know what that is and I got my head straight to understand that.”
Porter is playing out the final year of a four-year, $9.6 million rookie contract and is scheduled for unrestricted free agency in 2027. Pittsburgh selected him No. 32 overall in 2023, with the pick acquired from Chicago in the Chase Claypool trade. He made the Professional Football Writers of America All-Rookie team that season.
Over three seasons, Porter has appeared in 47 games with 41 starts, according to the Steelers, and has recorded 164 tackles, 31 passes defensed, and three interceptions. He played 14 games in 2025 and finished with 52 tackles, 1 sack, 1 interception, and 14 passes defensed.
The market moved in August. Devon Witherspoon and the Seattle Seahawks agreed on Aug. 15 to a four-year, $132 million extension with $101 million guaranteed, a person with knowledge of the deal told The Associated Press. The average of $33 million a year made Witherspoon the highest-paid cornerback in the league.
What The Dallas Cowboys Have At Cornerback
Dallas allowed 511 points in 2025, or 30.1 per game, more than any other team in the NFL. The Cowboys also gave up a league-high 4,276 net passing yards and finished 7-9-1.
Bland is the starter at one cornerback spot. On the first unofficial depth chart of the regular season, released Sept. 8, Dallas listed Cobie Durant or Shavon Revel Jr. opposite him, with the job still undecided. Rookie Caleb Downs is listed as the starting nickel corner.
Durant signed a one-year, $4 million contract on March 13 after four seasons with the Los Angeles Rams. Revel was the No. 76 overall pick in 2025 and played seven games as a rookie while recovering from a torn ACL. Dallas traded up one spot in April to take Downs at No. 11 overall and signed him to a four-year, $28.9 million rookie deal.
Bland signed a four-year, $92 million extension in September 2025. He played 12 games last season and finished with 45 solo tackles, 1 interception, and 6 passes defensed.
Dallas opens the season Sunday night at MetLife Stadium against the New York Giants. Kickoff is set for 7:20 p.m. CT on NBC.
