Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Joey Porter Jr. was able to return to the playing field after he was initially injured against the Baltimore Ravens on Saturday, leading to the possibility that the Steelers’ top cornerback might not have to miss much time with the injury.
But Porter will not play against the Kansas City Chiefs on Wednesday, and it doesn’t seem that he’s particularly close to a return, either.
After Porter tried to return to the game against the Ravens, he came back out of the game for good and it was determined that what was initially suspected as a calf injury was actually to his right knee.
Porter is suspected to have suffered a PCL sprain, an injury that usually takes at least a couple of weeks to heal up. Steelers running back Jaylen Warren missed two weeks with that same injury earlier this season, and was less than 100% when he returned the third week.
Not only did the team rule Porter out on Tuesday, they announced that he did not practice at all this week, not a strong sign that he’s close to a return from the injury.
Porter doesn’t have the luxury of too much time. The Steelers will be playing in a playoff game the weekend of Jan. 11-12.
With Porter out, the Steelers will turn to a combination of James Pierre and Cory Trice Jr. at outside cornerback alongside Donte Jackson.
Jackson is expected to make his return from injury after missed the second half of the Philadelphia Eagles game and all of last week’s contest with a pinched nerve in his back.
PITTSBURGH STEELERS INJURY REPORT
Player | Injury | Date | Prognosis | Sun | Mon | Tue | Game |
LB Tyler Matakevich | Knee | Dec. 21 | Healthy | DNP | FP | FP | IN |
WR Ben Skowronek | Hip | Dec. 21 | TBD | DNP | DNP | DNP | OUT |
CB Joey Porter Jr. | Right knee, PCL sprain | Dec. 21 | TBD | DNP | DNP | DNP | OUT |
QB Justin Fields | Abdomen | Dec. 15 | Day to day | DNP | LP | LP | QST |
SS DeShon Elliott | Hamstring | Dec. 8 | Healthy | LP | FP | FP | IN |
CB Donte Jackson | Back/pinched nerve | Dec. 8 | Healthy | LP | FP | FP | IN |
DT Larry Ogunjobi | Groin | Dec. 8 | Healthy | LP | FP | FP | IN |
WR George Pickens | Hamstring | Dec. 6 | Healthy | LP | FP | FP | IN |
STEELERS INJURED RESERVE
Player | Injury | Date | Prognosis | Roster Status |
OT Calvin Anderson | Groin | Dec. 13 | Three weeks | Injured reserve |
CB Zyon Gilbert | Knee | Nov. 16 | TBD | Practice squad IR |
CB C.J. Henderson | Neck | Nov. 14 | Week to week | Injured reserve |
CB Anthony Averett | TBD | Oct. 17 | TBD | Practice squad IR |
WR Roman Wilson | Hamstring | Oct. 17 | Week to week | Injured reserve |
DE DeMarvin Leal | Neck/stinger | Oct. 6 | Out for season | Injured reserve |
RG James Daniels | Achilles | Sept. 29 | Out for season | Injured reserve |
RT Troy Fautanu | R knee dislocation | Sept. 20 | Regular season | Injured reserve |
P Cameron Johnston | Right knee | Sept. 8 | Out for season | Injured reserve |
SS Ryan Watts | Neck/stinger | Aug. 24 | Out for season | Injured reserve |
DL Logan Lee | Calf | Aug. 20 | Week to week | Injured reserve |
C Nate Herbig | Torn rotator cuff | Aug. 14 | Out for season | Injured reserve |
ILB Cole Holcomb | Left knee surgery | Nov. 2, 2023 | Week to week | PUP/reserve |