Mike McCarthy won't commit to a timeline for Joey Porter Jr. to appear in a game for the Steelers

Ray Fittipaldo, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette on Sep 14, 2026

Published in Football

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PITTSBURGH — Mike McCarthy said it was his decision to make cornerback Joey Porter Jr. inactive on Sunday, and the Pittsburgh Steelers coach would not commit to a timeline for when Porter will play in a game.

Porter, who was removed from the physically unable to perform list on Aug. 30 and is medically cleared from a back injury, was listed as questionable for the opener against the Atlanta Falcons after being limited in practices last week.

McCarthy said last week he had no hard and fast rules this season on how much players have to practice to play in games, noting he is still getting to know his players. But on Monday he indicated Porter is going to have to be a full participant in practices before he plays.

“It’s my decision,” McCarthy said. “I’m in charge of the [48-man game-day roster]. You have a week of training. We spoke a couple of times last week. My concern for Joey is to get him to a spot, no different than anyone else in training camp. ... There are players that go through that first ramp-up period who aren’t ready to play. I don’t see this any different than that.

“Now, the thing that is different is there is a business component to it. That’s really a whole other topic. As far as Joey’s participation in practice, he’s communicating with the trainer every day, the strength and conditioning coach and his position coaches. We’ll get him out there when he’s ready to go through a full practice.”

Porter and the Steelers could not come to terms on a new contract before the start of the season, and the Steelers are not altering their policy of negotiating contracts in season. As soon as McCarthy decides Porter is ready to play, Porter is obligated to suit up and play on the terms of the final year of his rookie contract.

In addition, the Steelers can control Porter’s rights beyond the 2026 season if they place the franchise tag on him in March.

McCarthy said he has not yet spoken to team trainers about Porter’s ramp-up workouts this week, but he anticipates Porter doing more than he did last week.

McCarthy also acknowledged once Porter is cleared to play, there is the matter of how he responds to playing on a contract he does not like.

“Just having personal experience of dealing with business during the season, it’s not easy,” he said. “I think that’s an individual situation that everyone handles differently.”

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