Joey Porter Jr. and the Steelers' Deadline | NFL News

0:00On September 7th, alright, let's talk about Joey Porter Jr. and the Steelers. The teams expecting him to be out there for their week one matchup against the Atlanta Falcons even though he's still in contract talks. Head coach Mike Tomlin mentioned that Porter Jr. is in a wrap-up period, meaning they're easing him back in. Now, this whole situation stems from Porter Jr., entering the final year of his rookie deal. The team activated him from the PUP list right before the roster cuts, which was crucial. If they hadn't, he would have missed at least the first four games of the season. He'd aggravated his back during a drill, but it's also possible his contract situation played a part in his absence from camp. He's been back on the practice field for about a week now, getting back into the swing of things with the defense. The Steelers have a pretty firm organizational rule about not letting contract disputes drag into the regular season, so they're definitely feeling the pressure. With week one just stays away, there's a ticking clock for both Porter Jr. and the team

1:00to get this deal done. He was pretty cagey when asked if he'd play without an extension and holding out carries its own risks. It's a tough spot, but you have to think something's going to happen before they hit the field against the Falcons. Ultimately, whether he gets a new deal or not will set the tone for both him and the Steelers moving forward. It's a business, and these business conversations are definitely ongoing. Today locked in with NFL News Today, AI-powered updates.