Joey Porter Jr. Drags Odell Beckham Jr. With Epic Dig

Joey Porter Jr. showed out on Sunday against the Ravens with his first interception. After the game, Porter was confident and felt like he should. But he got that interception against someone he grew up watching, Odell Beckham Jr. Now a veteran, Beckham is not what he once was after numerous injuries, but Porter’s perfect coverage drew rave reviews, regardless.

“I’m the rookie out there against Odell Beckham on a third down,” Porter said. “I already had that in the back of my mind that they were going to try and go after me on that play. I was just excited. Happy to make a play for this team in a crucial moment of the game. I just really put myself into the Steelers-Ravens rivalry.”

On Wednesday, the Steelers released their sights and sounds of the game, and of course, Joey Porter Jr. is one of those highlighted. Following the interception, Porter had some words for the veteran receiver once he got to the sideline, calling out that he anticipated that play immediately.

“I’m like go ahead run that,” Porter said. “I already knew it was coming. I strapped his old ass, I told him.”

Joey Porter Jr. had some words for Odell after the INT👀

“STRAPPED HIS OLD ASS”

How can you not love this guy?? pic.twitter.com/7SSpkQ5DoR

— Ock (@OcksWRLD) October 12, 2023

It is not certain that Porter will start out of the bye week, but that door has now swung wide open after his impressive play against the Ravens.

“We did play him more in the last game outside of just the dime packages he usually plays in,” Brown said. “You know, when you’ve got three good guys with Pat, Levi, and him, and when you’re in a game like that with all of those guys, if a guy’s playing well, you have to continue to play that guy…I think there’s a chance that whoever plays well will start. That’s the goal at the end of the day. He finished the end of the game in a good spot. We’ll see if he starts. I think at the end of the day, are you making the plays that need to be made. I’m not sure it really matters who starts. It’s about who is out there and how is that guy playing?”

Joey Porter Jr. has allowed a 0.0 passer rating on the season when targeted on 83 snaps. The sample size remains too small to make sweeping conclusions, as that is about a game and a half worth of snaps. But the truth remains that Porter has caught onto this thing in the NFL quicker than the Steelers may have even thought. The battles with George Pickens and Diontae Johnson sharpened Porter’s technique and drive; so far, it has translated seamlessly onto the NFL field.