Joey Porter Jr. made his debut with the Dallas Cowboys when they played the Houston Texans just days after the Pittsburgh Steelers traded the cornerback for a 2027 sixth-round pick and a 2028 second-round pick. 

Porter missed the start of the season with the Steelers amid a back injury and a contract dispute. The sixth-round pick was conditional, as Porter will have to be active for two games this season. 

He missed the Cowboys' loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on "Thursday Night Football" in Week 5 due to an illness. However, he was placed on the injury report in Week 5 for having an ankle injury. He was listed as a full participant for all three practices last week.

On Wednesday's injury report, Dallas listed Porter as a limited participant due to the ankle injury. That adds some intrigue before the Cowboys travel to play the Green Bay Packers in Week 6. for "Sunday Night Football."

Per ESPN's Todd Archer, Porter told reporters on Wednesday that he is nearing the end of the illness that was the reason he was made inactive against the Buccaneers. He became sick on Thursday, with the first symptom being an itchy throat during the team's walkthrough.

He alerted the Cowboys and they gave him the "right stuff" for the illness, but it didn't help much as he was throwing up outside of his Uber before getting to AT&T Stadium.

Porter is "shooting for" playing a larger snap count than the 24 plays of the 52 Dallas ran on defense against the Texans.

Based on Porter's account, he should be ready to suit up and play the Packers on Sunday night. If that happens, the Steelers will lock in a 2027 sixth-round pick. But until that happens, there will be plenty of intrigue in Pittsburgh after the way the back injury was handled this summer. 

Pittsburgh is 1-1 after trading away Porter. The Steelers will next travel to play a 1-4 Buccaneers team that upset the Cowboys on Thursday night. 

Many around the league thought the Buccaneers were a favorite to win the NFC South, but they've had a frustrating start to the season and are still without Baker Mayfield, who suffered a dislocated right thumb in Tampa Bay's loss to the Minnesota Vikings in Week 3. 

The Steelers will then play the New Orleans Saints in Paris in Week 7, giving the team an opportunity to win some games and stay on pace in the AFC North.