Steelers CB Joey Porter Jr. joins Jalen Ramsey on PUP list to begin training camp

The Pittsburgh Steelers are down two starting corners as training camp opened on Tuesday.

Jalen Ramsey and Joey Porter Jr. have both been added to the Physically Unable to Perform list to begin camp. Ramsey was added after suffering a knee injury during mini-camp.

Porter Jr. was a late add to the PUP list, getting added Tuesday morning after he “aggravated his back during the team’s mobility workout this morning,” per ESPN’s Brooke Pryor.

Injuries at the start of training camp aren’t cause for concern as teams tend to be more cautious with so much time still remaining before the start of the season. Steelers GM Omar Khan spoke on this aspect of adding Ramsey to the PUP list.

“We’re just going to be smart about it. He’s a pro. It’s going to be a couple weeks. This isn’t something where we anticipate him not being ready for the season.”

“We’re just going to be smart about it. He’s a pro. It’s going to be a couple weeks. This isn’t something where we anticipate him not being ready for the season.”

Porter Jr. is an interesting case. He was cited as having a back injury sustained during a mobility workout. While that is likely true, the corner is also in the market for a new contract, and getting added to the PUP list helps the team avoid having to fine him for being a hold-in.

The cornerback could still be dealing with a minor injury, but there is a chance he will be activated from the PUP list and conveniently come to terms on a new deal.

Ramsey and Porter Jr. are not the only players the Steelers have on the PUP list. Depth cornerback Donte Kent is also starting camp on the PUP list, putting Pittsburgh down three corners.

Khan was not concerned about the depth of the secondary despite the injuries at the start of camp.

“Camp’s exciting at that position just because we haven’t had a chance to get Jamel Dean on the field. He’ll be out there. Darnell Savage, [Brandin] Echols, DeShon Elliott will be out there.

And those guys, we’ll be smart about how we work those guys and get them ready. But we feel good about the depth we had and the group we had in the offseason and still feel good about it today.”

“Camp’s exciting at that position just because we haven’t had a chance to get Jamel Dean on the field. He’ll be out there. Darnell Savage, [Brandin] Echols, DeShon Elliott will be out there.

And those guys, we’ll be smart about how we work those guys and get them ready. But we feel good about the depth we had and the group we had in the offseason and still feel good about it today.”

Pittsburgh acquired Ramsey ahead of the 2025 NFL season. The veteran corner played in all 17 games and finished with 88 combined tackles. Ramsey added three sacks and one interception.

Porter Jr. was drafted by Pittsburgh with the 32nd overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. He is heading into the final season of his current rookie deal. The cornerback played in 14 games last year, missing some time with a hamstring injury.

He finished his second season with 52 combined tackles, 1 sack and 1 interception.