Steelers Gameday Steelers Injury Updates
Steelers CB Joey Porter Jr. Leaves Game with Injury
ATLANTA — Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Joey Porter Jr. suffered an apparent upper body injury early in the fourth quarter of Sunday’s season opener against the Atlanta Falcons. Porter appeared to be in a good deal of pain while being evaluated by trainers and team doctors. The NFL red hat independent neurologist was also in the medical tent with Porter, as well.
Second-year corner Cory Trice replaced Porter to finish the series. Porter returned to action on the next possession, however.
Joey Porter has been taken to the medical tent on the #Steelers sideline. https://t.co/GieDFNh2K8
— Alan Saunders (@ASaunders_PGH) September 8, 2024
Porter limited Falcons wide receiver Drake London to just two receptions for 15 yards in the game. Ray-Ray McCloud was the Falcons leading receiver with four receptions for 52 yards. Cousins completed 16 of 26 passes for 155 yards, one touchdown, two interceptions, and a quarterback rating of 59.0.
Safety DeShon Elliott picked off an ill-advised pass by Cousins in the first quarter. Cornerback Donte Jackson also should have had an interception on Cousins on the first possession, but he was unable to make the play. The pass hit him right in the facemask. Jackson redeemed himself late in the fourth quarter with a 49-yard interception return to set up a game-sealing Chris Boswell field goal.
Porter had a banner rookie campaign in 2023, finishing fifth in NFL Defensive Player of the Year voting.
Porter allowed a completion on just 47.4% of his targets in 2023, which was the lowest among all cornerbacks with 50+ targets, according to Pro Football Focus. In addition, Porter only gave up 50+ yards in the air in 2 out of his 17 games during his rookie season.
Porter allowed just one touchdown pass and just 0.76 yards per cover snap in 2023. Travis Etienne’s 56-yard touchdown in the Jacksonville Jaguars’ Week 8 win over the Steelers was the only touchdown that Porter allowed, and that came on a busted coverage.
Porter declared this offseason that he’s the best cornerback in the NFL. “I don’t care if I am mentioned in there (among the best) or not because they are going to hear my name eventually.”
Alan Saunders contributed reporting from Atlanta.
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