Steelers may have just revealed Joey Porter Jr.’s fate for Week 1

It may take a miracle for Joey Porter Jr. to suit up for the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 1, as the latest roster move by the team spells bad news for the young cornerback’s availability this Sunday.

Less than 24 hours before the start of their regular season opener against the Atlanta Falcons, the Steelers elevated cornerback Doneiko Slaughter to their active/inactive roster for Week 1. While Slaughter will return to the practice squad following Sunday’s game, the move doesn’t exactly bode well for Porter.

Porter, who was drafted by the Steelers with the 32nd overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, has just one year remaining on his rookie contract and is looking for a long-term extension. He sat out of practice for over a month on the physically unable to perform list with a back injury, but some speculated the setback had more to do with contract talks.

As Porter is being “ramped up” in practice, the Steelers may have already decided that he wouldn’t play in Week 1 and opted to get some additional cornerback depth by elevating Slaughter. This could be a bit of a stretch, but fans shouldn’t be surprised if Porter is inactive to start the season.

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