Steelers Get Big News on Joey Porter Jr Before 'Thursday Night Football'

The Pittsburgh Steelers have made a couple of moves for the secondary this week in the aftermath of the trade that sent Joey Porter Jr. to the Dallas Cowboys, poaching Sean Murphy-Bunting from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' practice squad and Terrell Smith from the practice squad of the Washington Commanders. 

Those signings come amid news that Jamel Dean could miss multiple games due to an ankle injury. Adding two practice squad players invited questions that the Steelers might have made the wrong choice not to give Porter a new deal in a season where they're all-in to win a Super Bowl.

The Cowboys traded for Porter in a bid to win the Super Bowl. He was extremely effective during his 24 snaps in Dallas' win over the Houston Texans in Week 4. However, the Cowboys had to make Porter inactive before playing the Buccaneers on "Thursday Night Football" as the cornerback is dealing with an illness, per the team.

That's big news for the Steelers. Pittsburgh received a 2028 second-round pick and a conditional 2027 sixth-round pick for Porter. The conditional pick is contingent on Porter being active for two games this season. He was active against the Texans, meaning Pittsburgh would have owed Dallas the pick if he played on Thursday night. 

For now, the Steelers hold on to the pick. 

There are some obvious questions about Porter's status that will need to be addressed. Porter missed the preseason and the first three games of the season for Pittsburgh due to back/NIR conditioning. 

The back injury appeared to be a convenient excuse for a player to use when negotiating for a contract. Porter was placed on the Week 5 injury report for having an ankle issue, but was a full participant in practice this week and was not given a designation on Wednesday night.

Given the way the back issue was treated in the media, it's fair to wonder if there will be the same criticism around the illness designation, which could be another convenient excuse for Porter to use at a time when he wants a new deal.

Per Mike Garafolo of the NFL Network, Porter had been "vomiting with a bad virus" before the Thursday night game.

In any event, there is a chance the Cowboys are having issues of their own with Porter, and we'll see if there is a resolution before Dallas travels to play the Green Bay Packers on "Sunday Night Football" in Week 6. 

If Porter plays against the Packers, the Steelers will owe Dallas the 2027 sixth-round pick. If not, the Steelers will keep waiting.