Cowboys to trade for Steelers cornerback Joey Porter Jr.

Oct. 1 (UPI) — The Dallas Cowboys agreed to trade for Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Joey Porter Jr., a league source told UPI on Thursday.

Pittsburgh agreed to send a sixth-round pick in the 2027 NFL Draft and a second-round pick in the 2028 NFL Draft to Dallas in exchange for Porter. The fourth-year defender was inactive for the Steelers’ first three games this season.

Porter, who was involved in a contract dispute with the Steelers, also was listed with conditioning/back injury designations on injury reports this season.

The second-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft appeared in 47 games, with 41 starts, through his first three seasons. He is set to play on the final season of his four-year rookie contract.

Porter will join a Cowboys secondary that includes DaRon Bland, Caleb Downs, Shavon Revel Jr., Cobie Durant, Malik Hooker, Ameer Speed, Calen Carson, Markquese Bell and Alijah Clark.

Cornerback Joey Porter Jr. (R) started 41 games through his first three seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers. File Photo by Archie Carpenter/UPI

The Cowboys’ secondary has been hit with a wave of injuries. The team recently placed safeties Jalen Thompson and P.J. Locke on injured reserve. Hooker, who missed the last two games with a forearm fracture, was limited in Wednesday’s practice. Revel, who is dealing with knee and ankle issues, and Durant, who has a hamstring injury, did not practice.

The Cowboys (1-2) allowed the third-most yards in the NFL through three weeks. They surrendered the eighth-most points and 14th-fewest passing yards so far this season.

Cornerback Joey Porter Jr. was in a contract dispute earlier this year with the Pittsburgh Steelers. File Photo by Archie Carpenter/UPI

The Cowboys will face the Houston Texans (0-3) at 1 p.m. EDT Sunday in Houston.