Pittsburgh Steelers Steelers Injury Updates
Steelers Key Defensive Starter On Track To Return vs. Bengals
The Pittsburgh Steelers should get a much-needed boost on defense when they host the Cincinnati Bengals in their regular season finale.
PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Steelers are set to get back cornerback Joey Porter Jr. when they host the Cincinnati Bengals in their regular season finale, according to head coach Mike Tomlin on Monday.
Tomlin seemed very optimistic that the second-year cornerback would be able to suit up for the Steelers Week 18 matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals.
“It looks like Joey Porter is scheduled to make it back,” Tomlin said.
Porter suffered what was suspected to be a PCL sprain during the Steelers 34-17 loss to the Baltimore Ravens in Week 16. It is 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.
That’s why it wasn’t surprising Porter was among those inactive for the Steelers Christmas day matchup with the Kansas City Chiefs. However, it seems Porter’s injury is less serious as previous thought as he is now likely to avoid missing his second straight game.
It’s great news since the Steelers have had to rely on backup cornerbacks James Pierre and Cory Trice Jr. Neither have played necessarily poorly, but neither are on the level of Porter, who has registered 64 tackles (47 solo), one interception and six passes defensed this season.
The return of Porter is even more important with a hot Bengals offense coming to Pittsburgh, too.
Ahead of their first meeting of the season, Tomlin said quarterback Joe Burrow was playing “MVP-caliber” football. That remains true as Burrow has thrown for a league-leading 4,641 yards and 42 touchdowns.
Stopping Burrow will be the Steelers’ No. 1 priority come Saturday night. Porter will help make that tall task a little bit easier.
Alan Saunders provided reporting from Pittsburgh.
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