Stalled contract negotiations and a lingering back injury have Mike McCarthy frustrated as Joey Porter Jr. falls behind in a new defensive scheme before the preseason finale.
The Pittsburgh Steelers revealed good news for the secondary on Monday when they activated safety Jalen Ramsey off the physically unable to perform list.
Still, the Steelers have a cornerback on the active/PUP list, and it’s becoming even more of a concern for head coach Mike McCarthy and the coaching staff before Pittsburgh's final preseason game at the Buffalo Bills on Thursday night.
During his news conference on Monday, McCarthy told reporters the Steelers were at an "impasse" with cornerback Joey Porter. (Porter has been on the PUP list since he aggravated his back during the first day of training camp.)
"I learned this in my early years as a head coach: You have to separate the business and football," McCarthy said, via ESPN. "Sometimes it's easier than others. This is a challenge for both Joey and us because we're first-year staff. We've seen them play, compete against Joey.
"I would love the opportunity to coach Joey Porter. I know our defensive guys would love the opportunity. So we're at an impasse right here, and you've got to respect that. Every one of us has a contract. The organization, they have beliefs and so forth. But yeah, that's just kind of where we are."
Porter, a 2023 second-round pick by the Steelers, has been vocal about wanting a contract extension this offseason. During mandatory minicamp in June, Porter said he wanted to practice with Pittsburgh during training camp amid his contract negotiations.
"That's the vision," Porter said. "I want to be out there. Everybody knows I want to be out there.
"I'm just gonna do everything I can and take it day by day."
Right now, Porter is going day by day with his back as the Steelers prepare to trim the roster to 53 players by Sunday. Pittsburgh isn't expected to cut Porter, but the cornerback is falling behind learning the new scheme of defensive coordinator Patrick Graham, which isn't ideal for a player that might need good tape before the 2027 offseason.
The Steelers don't typically negotiate with players once the season starts. At that point, Porter needs to have a great season before free agency in March. He's missed a lot of time in training camp to get better.
