Joey Porter Jr. Set to Make NFL Debut

UNITY TWP., Pa. — The Steelers will welcome back a number of players into the lineup against the Buffalo Bills, many of them not from injury. Guys such as Minkah Fitzpatrick, T.J. Watt, Patrick Peterson, and others will take the field for the first time this season. However, one key rookie, Joey Porter Jr. will return from a variety of bumps and bruises to make his NFL debut on Saturday.

“We expect all healthy players to play,” Tomlin said. “I am excited about seeing guys for the first time this week that we held out last week like Minkah, Pat Pete, Cam, T.J., and Joey Porter Jr.”

Porter suffered a left ankle injury and then nicked his hamstring a few days before he would have played against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. As a result, this will be the first significant opportunity for Porter to show off what he can do in-game, and he will have a chance to face the first team offense for the Bills if the Steelers choose to take that avenue.

“It’s great to be back out there with the guys running around,” Porter said. “It’s a day-to-day thing, and it’s up to coach. That’s how we’re playing it. But I’m excited to get out there if I can.”

Yesterday, Porter went into team periods just about fully. He got a few ups on George Pickens for the first time in training camp, showing that he is starting to come around and grow as a player. As the game slows down for Porter, he will have a chance to play in the nickel packages that the Steelers deploy. He offers the team a special amount of length on the outside, and has proven that his ball skills are underrated despite lackluster ball production during his time at Penn State.