By admin 
The Pittsburgh Steelers have made a decision regarding Joey Porter Jr.’s status for Sunday. After failing to reach an agreement on a contract extension, reports indicate that Porter is unlikely to suit up for Week 1’s battle against the Atlanta Falcons. Porter has missed time since the beginning of training camp with a back injury, and he will now miss the season opener. After the team elevated Doneiko Slaughter ahead of Sunday’s game, this outcome felt increasingly likely.
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There are now plenty of unknowns surrounding Porter and his future with the Steelers. Not only will he sit out Week 1, but some teams have also monitored his trade status. Ian Rapoport reported that the Steelers have not ruled out a trade. Needless to say, the entire saga has unfolded as oddly and poorly as it could have. That’s not only because the Steelers couldn’t reach an agreement with a key rising defensive cornerstone, but also because they allowed the situation to reach this point.
What is next?
Right now, the Steelers have a game to play. Asante Samuel Jr. will get the start, giving Pittsburgh an opportunity to see if he can provide the same level of effectiveness as Porter. Samuel has the ability to play both man-to-man and zone coverage, though Porter’s man-to-man ability ranks among the most effective in the league. This entire situation has been an unusual saga, but Samuel now has an opportunity to show what he can do.
Samuel played some snaps late last season after joining the Steelers following his recovery from a neck procedure. He impressed the team enough for Pittsburgh to bring him back. Samuel also had an excellent training camp and preseason. Now, he has a significant opportunity to put pressure on Porter to return sooner rather than later. Or perhaps give the Steelers an indication that they could move Porter in a trade.
Unless Porter returns for Week 2, the Steelers may have to lie in the bed they made.
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It never should’ve gotten to this point
The Steelers should not have let things get to this point. It was clear that Porter wanted his deal done, yet Pittsburgh couldn’t make it work. Regardless of whether the team wanted to see him fully participate in practice, it should not have allowed the situation to continue this long. Porter’s “back injury” appears to be nothing more than a hold-in tactic, and Pittsburgh has seemingly accommodated him. Which is now baffling considering the turn it has taken.
To a degree, that’s fine during training camp and the preseason. But now Porter is missing meaningful games.
Pittsburgh needs to make a few decisions. Does the team push Porter to play next week now that the contract negotiating period has passed? Should the Steelers actually consider a trade if they receive enough compensation? Or should they break precedent and reach a restructured deal, similar to what the Kansas City Chiefs and Chris Jones did after Week 1 in 2023?
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This story was originally published September 13, 2026 at 5:30 AM.