Steelers, Joey Porter Jr. at contract impasse as season nears

Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Joey Porter Jr. remains at a contract impasse with the team as the regular season approaches, with head coach Mike McCarthy confirming the standoff on Monday. Porter, who is entering the final year of his rookie deal, has not practiced during training camp and is currently on the Physically Unable to Perform list due to a back issue.

McCarthy stated that the organization and Porter are at an impasse regarding a new contract. "I learned this in my early years as a head coach, you have to separate the business and the football," McCarthy said. "This is a challenge for both Joey and us, because we're a first-year staff. We've seen him play. I would love the opportunity to coach Joey Porter." He added that the team respects the contractual process, noting, "Every one of us has a contract. The organization, they have beliefs and so forth, so that's kinda where we are."

Porter, the 26-year-old son of former Steelers linebacker Joey Porter Sr., was selected with the first pick of the second round in the 2023 NFL Draft. He is coming off a strong 2025 season in which he recorded 14 pass deflections and did not allow a touchdown in over 1,000 coverage snaps,...