JOEY PORTER JR TO MISS SECOND STRAIGHT STEELERS GAME

Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Joey Porter Jr. will miss Sunday's game against the New England Patriots, his second consecutive absence, according to a report by ESPN's Adam Schefter. Porter had been building up his workload during the week but left Thursday's practice early after his back flared up, prompting the Steelers to rule him out. Schefter's report said Porter is now considering seeking a second opinion on the injury. His outlook for the Steelers' Week 3 fixture remains uncertain, the report added.

Porter spent the entirety of training camp on the physically unable to perform list and is also working to build up his conditioning, according to the report. Schefter reported that the Steelers are targeting Week 3, against the Cincinnati Bengals, for Porter's 2026 season debut. Yahoo Sports separately reported that the Steelers want Porter back for that game but that he is still struggling with the back problem. Neither report gave further detail on the nature or severity of the injury.

The injury situation comes as Porter seeks a new contract, which the report said the Steelers are not expected to discuss while the season is under way, citing the team's established policy against in-season negotiations. That standoff has led to speculation about a possible trade, though the report said nothing appeared imminent as Week 2 of the season began. The report added that the situation could change if Porter remains out as the trade deadline approaches. No further timeline for his return has been confirmed.