Steelers Get Major Joey Porter Jr News Minutes Before Cowboys-Packers Game

The Pittsburgh Steelers have been patiently waiting to see how the situation between Joey Porter Jr. and the Dallas Cowboys unfolds after the Steelers traded away the cornerback before the games in Week 4 with a conditional 2027 sixth-round pick hinging on him being active for two games this season.

Porter played 24 snaps against the Houston Texans in the Cowboys' win in Week 4 (pretty effective snaps, with the cornerback allowing zero receptions), but was made inactive in Week 5 due to an illness before Dallas lost to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on "Thursday Night Football.”

This week, Porter was made questionable to play the Green Bay Packers on "Sunday Night Football" in Week 6 due to an ankle injury that had him listed at practice on Wednesday and Friday.

He traveled with the team, which was a good sign for his availability. On Sunday, the Cowboys revealed their inactive list, with Porter's name being absent.

Dallas now officially owes the Steelers the conditional sixth-round pick for 2027 in addition to the 2028 second-round pick. The draft capital will allow Pittsburgh's front office to be more aggressive before the trade deadline on Nov. 10, something the Steelers are expected to do as they go all-in to win this season.

Steelers make progress on Sunday 

It wasn't easy on Sunday, but the Steelers pulled off a 26-19 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in overtime for Week 6. The Buccaneers entered the game with a 1-4 record, but they showed fight in a win over the Cowboys in Week 5 with backup quarterback Jalon Daniels.

The Steelers improved to 4-2 with the win. They're now tied for the lead in the AFC North with the Baltimore Ravens and Cleveland Browns. Via tiebreakers, the Browns are atop the division heading into Week 7. 

As of this publishing, the Steelers would be the No. 7 seed in the AFC ahead of the Ravens but behind the 4-2 Denver Broncos.

The Steelers are now on a two-game winning streak and will next travel to play the 2-4 New Orleans Saints in Week 7. 

The Saints will provide a tough challenge for the visiting Steelers. The Steelers snapped a three-game losing streak by beating the New York Giants in a high-scoring 34-27 affair on Sunday. The Saints defeated the Baltimore Ravens in Week 2, which should have Pittsburgh head coach Mike McCarthy on notice this week.