Steelers CB Joey Porter Jr. Looks Forward to Round 2 vs. Tee Higgins: ‘This is a Very Personal Game for Us’
PITTSBURGH — Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Joey Porter Jr. said his knee feels fine and he expects to play on Saturday night against the Cincinnati Bengals.
Porter was called for six penalties, four of which were accepted, in the team’s 44-38 win against the Bengals in Week 13. Bengals star wide receiver Tee Higgins gave Porter fits throughout the afternoon
The 6-foot-4, 220-pound wide receiver has had his way against the Steelers in the past with four 100+ receiving yard performances. Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin compared Higgins to former NBA star Shaquille O’Neal.
“As I mentioned after the game, a component of that is competing against the likes of Tee Higgins and his style of play,” Tomlin said of Porter’s six penalties in the Week 13 win over Cincinnati. “I felt the same way when we played DK Metcalf late last year, for example. You have to match physicality of these big people and sometimes you do so at risk, and that’s just a tight rope that I and he are willing to walk in an effort to be competitive. One thing we’re not gonna do is turn it down and allow him to catch the ball. He’s a big guy as you saw that touchdown late in the game against Cam Sutton. He is a challenge, and so, when we play Shaq, we’re gonna use our fouls. We’re not gonna allow him to get us off the block, if you need a basketball analogy.”
Porter looks forward to getting another shot Higgins on Saturday night.
“Definitely going to get Higgins again,” Porter said. “He got a lot of good qualities to his game that I like. He could go attack the ball. He is pretty fast, so it’s going to be a good matchup.”
After a third straight loss, and after multiple players in the locker room following the Christmas Day loss to the Kansas City talked about more than just miscommunications, but effort level and want-to, Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin called the team into the facility on Thursday, Dec. 26 to hash out their problems and figure out a way forward.
“I feel like we all want to get that bad taste out of our mouths,” Porter said. “This is a very personal game for all of us. We are taking this game very serious like every week. We’re just trying to show everybody that we know how to play defense too.”
On Tuesday, Porter was a full participant at practice just 10 days after suffering a right knee sprain that threatened his season. He practiced fully on Wednesday and Thursday, as well.
Porter suffered a right PCL sprain against the Baltimore Ravens on Dec. 21. That’s an injury that could have cost him the rest of the 2024 campaign, but 10 days later, Porter was back out there running with the full squad.
Trice and James Pierre have combined to replace Porter after his injury against the Ravens and last week against the Kansas City Chiefs.
Higgins has been on a tear of late. In the last seven games, Higgins has recorded 44 receptions for 599 yards (13.6 average) and eight touchdowns. The Steelers will have their hands full with the Bengals’ trio of quarterback Joe Burrow and wideouts Ja’Marr Chase and Higgins.
“They’re just clicking,” Porter said. “You know, they got Joe Burrow. Great quarterback and they got some good talent on the outside. They’ve just been clicking. Spreading the ball around and really just catching the ball and making plays.”
Alan Saunders provided reporting from Pittsburgh.
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