Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike McCarthy offered a cautious but upbeat update Monday on cornerback Joey Porter Jr., who has not appeared in a game this season.
Pittsburgh is preparing for a short week and a Thursday night road game against the Cleveland Browns after beating the Cincinnati Bengals 30-27 on Sunday.
McCarthy was asked whether Porter could be available in Cleveland.
“I hope so. We have a plan for Joey. Hopefully he can do more. We’ll give him a chance to get out there,” McCarthy said.
Porter, 26, has missed the Steelers’ first three games. The team initially listed him with a back injury. His designation later changed to conditioning as Pittsburgh said he was working toward being able to play.
The Steelers are 2-1 and first in the AFC North without him. They opened with a 20-13 win over Atlanta, lost 20-3 at New England, then rallied past Cincinnati.
Porter was Pittsburgh’s first pick of the second round in 2023, selected 32nd overall out of Penn State. He is the son of former Steelers linebacker Joey Porter, a four-time Pro Bowl selection and a member of the Super Bowl XL championship team.
The younger Porter is in the final year of his rookie contract. Talks on a long-term extension did not produce a deal before the regular season, and the franchise has a long-standing practice of not negotiating once the season begins.
Porter has said he will “definitely” play at some point this season, though he has not given a date. He also has said he expects a limited snap count whenever he returns.
Trade speculation has grown with each inactive week. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that a handful of teams, including the Dallas Cowboys and Detroit Lions, have inquired about Porter’s availability.
League sources told Schefter the Steelers would listen but would require a strong compensation package to move the fourth-year cornerback.
Porter has not been named to a Pro Bowl in three NFL seasons. In 2025 he recorded 52 tackles, 14 pass deflections and one interception in 14 games.
His 2024 season remains his most productive. He finished with 70 combined tackles, 53 of them solo, two tackles for loss, seven pass breakups and one interception. As a rookie in 2023 he had 43 tackles.
The Steelers have used other corners, including Asante Samuel Jr., while Porter has been out. Pittsburgh listed Porter as a full participant on its first injury report of the Browns week after a Monday walkthrough.
Whether that workload leads to game action Thursday remains uncertain. McCarthy has repeatedly described Porter’s return as a planned ramp-up rather than a sudden switch.
A trade would be a significant moment for a franchise that drafted Porter in part because of his local ties. For now, the public message from the coaching staff is that there is a plan and that more work is the next step.
The Browns are also 2-1. Thursday’s game is scheduled for 8:15 p.m. Eastern on Amazon Prime Video.
