Joey Porter Jr. Inactive for Steelers Opener Against Falcons Amid Contract Impasse

The Steelers made Porter inactive 90 minutes before kickoff, which marked the franchise’s self-imposed deadline to reach a new agreement before the regular season begins.

Contract Stalled and Back Injury Sidelines Porter

Porter is currently entering the final season of the rookie contract he originally signed in 2023, according to Associated Press reporting. While Pittsburgh managed to re-sign several members of his draft class—including edge rusher Nick Herbig and tight end Darnell Washington—negotiations with Porter stalled. The 26-year-old cornerback tweaked his back during a mobility test when players reported to training camp in July, forcing him to spend the majority of the preseason on the physically unable to perform list.

Coach Mike McCarthy stated in August that the organization was at an impasse in contract talks with the defender. Porter returned to practice the week prior to the opener, but McCarthy noted that the player remained in a ramping up phase, which cast heavy doubt on his availability for the matchup in Atlanta. Porter stated back in May that his goal is to become one of the highest-paid defensive backs in the league.

Franchise Tradition and Future Roster Decisions

Because the Pittsburgh Steelers maintain a long-standing organizational tradition of refusing to negotiate player contracts during the active season, both sides must now wait until mid-January at the earliest to resume talks, according to the Associated Press. However, the club holds the contractual option of placing the franchise tag on Porter for the 2027 season if an extension cannot be reached.

Pittsburgh previously utilized the franchise tag strategy on former running back Le’Veon Bell in 2017 and 2018. While Bell earned All-Pro honors in 2017 under the tag, he chose to sit out the entire following season when the team applied the tag to him a second time.

Inactive Roster Details for Season Opener

Alongside Porter, the Steelers announced several other inactive players for the opening contest against Atlanta, including quarterbacks Drew Allar and Will Howard, guard Gennings Dunker, and defensive linemen Kevin Jobity Jr. and Gabriel Rubio, according to Associated Press coverage.

The opposing Atlanta Falcons also faced significant roster absences for the fixture. Quarterbacks Tua Tagovailoa and Michael Penix Jr. were both ruled inactive due to injuries, paving the way for Cooper Rush to earn the start under center. Additional inactive players for Atlanta included cornerbacks Billy Bowman Jr. and Malcolm DeWalt, linebacker Christian Harris, and tackle Ethan Onianwa.