Category: Joey Porter Jr.

Is it time to hit the panic button on Joey Porter Jr.?

As Joey Porter Jr. continues to shows signs of regression after a strong rookie year with the Steelers, is it time to panic?

Oh, how the mighty have fallen. Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Joey Porter Jr., the Steelers’ second-year cornerback from Penn State, entered his rookie season in 2023 with high expectations and ultimately earned the respect of both his peers and fans. However, his second NFL season has been disappointing, to say the least.

Through nine games in the 2024 season, Porter has allowed 26 receptions for 365 yards and a quarterback passer rating of 94.5. At this rate, he is on pace to allow 689 yards by the season’s end. This marks a noticeable decline from his 2023 rookie season, where he allowed just 25 receptions for 385 yards and a QB passer rating of 68.8 over 17 games.

Though Porter has shown inconsistency throughout the season, his worst performance came in Week 10 against the Washington Commanders. He allowed 131 yards on six receptions, which accounted for 71% of Washington’s 182 total receiving yards.

Pittsburgh may need to evaluate its options moving forward, perhaps by giving Porter additional practice reps or placing a safety over him during man-coverage plays, as the Steelers defense need to keep his inefficiency under control heading into a difficult second half stretch of the 2024 season.

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Steelers-Commanders matchups to watch: Joey Porter Jr. vs Terry McLaurin

CB Joey Porter Jr. faces WR Terry McLaurin in a key Week 10 positional matchup as the Steelers take on the Commanders in a pivotal showdown.

One of the premier matchups heading into the Pittsburgh Steelers’ Week 10 contest versus the Commanders is none other than Pittsburgh’s young shutdown CB Joey Porter Jr., taking on Washington’s elite WR Terry McLaurin.

JPJ has had an up-and-down start to the 2024 season, to say the least. Through eight games, Porter Jr. has allowed 20 receptions on 32 targets. According to PFF, he is also allowing 11.7 yards per reception, which ranks 75th out of 205 eligible cornerbacks. However, in his past two performances, JPJ has allowed an impressively small 25 yards combined in Weeks 7 and 8 against strong wide receiver units.

‘Scary’ Terry appears to be on the verge of a breakout 2024 campaign, hauling in six touchdowns, which is tied for the second-most in the NFL, and 598 receiving yards on 42 receptions. With an average of 14.2 yards per reception, McLaurin looks to be a major threat in Week 10’s contest.

Can the second-year CB lock down McLaurin in Week 10? Or will McLaurin exploit Porter Jr.’s over-reliance on physicality?

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NFL analyst calls Steelers CB Joey Porter Jr. ‘The next coming’

Joey Porter is ready to take that next step as a shutdown cornerback.

When the second round of the 2024 NFL draft started, everyone felt like they knew what the pick would be. Cornerback Joey Porter Jr. was a legacy with his dad one of the best defensive players in franchise history. He played his college ball in PA and oh and by the way, he was an exceptional college cornerback.

Porter took being selected in the second round, albeit with the No. 32 overall pick, as a slight and played his rookie season with a chip on his shoulder. This led to Porter allowing the fewest receptions in NFL history by a rookie for any cornerback with at least 800 snaps played.

On the latest episode of the Move the Sticks podcast. NFL Network analyst heaped praise on Porter and thinks he’s on the cusp of being an elite NFL corner.

“I think he’s the next coming,” Brooks said. “He’s the next guy that we’re gonna talk about being a premiere cornerback in the league.”

Pittsburgh traded for cornerback Donte Jackson to pair up with Porter this season but after embracing the role of No. 1 cornerback last season, Porter is the lead man this year.

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Steelers CB Joey Porter Jr. set historical mark as a rookie

Joey Porter did something no other rookie cornerback has ever done before.

The demands on rookies in the NFL seem to go up significantly every year. Thankfully it seems as if rookies get to the league more prepared than ever before. Last year, the Pittsburgh Steelers got themselves a great one in cornerback Joey Porter Jr.

Technically a second-round pick in the 2023 NFL draft, Porter ended up playing in all 17 games with 11 starts. On the season, Porter played 807 defensive snaps and did something no other rookie had ever done before. Porter only allowed 24 receptions, best of all time among rookie cornerbacks with at least 800 snaps.

Here’s how the top seven break down:

1) Joey Porter Jr.: 24
2) Sauce Gardner: 33
3) Marshon Lattimore: 36
4) Jaylon Johnson: 41
5) Pat Surtain II: 49
6) Jaire Alexander: 51
7) Jalen Ramsey: 54

Porter was the best rookie cornerback in the NFL last season. Porter took it very personally when he slid and saw four cornerbacks go ahead of him. But everything worked out perfectly as Porter was selected by the team where his father was a star and he gets to carry on that legacy.

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Steelers CB Joey Porter Jr. named one of the top press corners in the NFL

Joey Porter Jr. looked like a seasoned veteran last season as a rookie.

Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Joey Porter Jr. entered the league with a chip on his shoulder. Despite being the No. 32 overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft, he was technically a second-round pick and this stung for the former Penn State star.

Porter came to the Steelers as a legacy player after his dad, Joey Sr., who is one of the best pass rushers in franchise history. From the moment he stepped on the field, Porter set out to prove he was the equal to or even better than the cornerbacks selected ahead of him.

And for the most part, he succeeded. Porter quickly assimilated himself into the NFL and drew the responsibility of shadowing the opposing team’s top cornerback.

According to our friends over at Touchdown Wire, this made Porter one of the best press cornerbacks in the NFL last season. They broke down Porter’s game and here’s what they had to say as they ranked him No. 6 in the league.

Porter lived up to everything Tomlin could have wanted in his rookie campaign. He lined up in press on 227 of his 876 snaps, allowing 19 catches on 37 press targets for 7.6 yards per catch, five explosive plays, no touchdowns, and one interception.

Porter can move upfield with match coverage skills, but as much as anybody on this list, his game is really about snuffing out any kind of catch with his physicality and aggression to the ball. It doesn’t matter who he’s up against; in Porter’s mind, the ball is more his than the other guy’s.

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Steelers CB Joey Porter Jr. admits 2023 draft ‘still gets under my skin’

For Joey Porter Jr., the 2023 NFL draft was a series of highs and lows.

For Joey Porter Jr., the 2023 NFL draft was a series of highs and lows. Lows because he dropped past the first round and highs because he ultimately went to the team he was destined to play for: The Pittsburgh Steelers.

Porter felt all along that he was the top cornerback in the class and that he should’ve been selected as such. But it all worked out in the end.

“It still gets under my skin sometimes,” Porter told Teresa Varley of Steelers.com. “I felt like I was CB1 for sure, and it didn’t pan out that way. And luckily it didn’t pan out that way because I ended up here. I feel like it was worth it.”

As any NFL player would, Porter had a chip on his shoulder after being passed on by 31 teams.

“I feel like it elevated my game even more because I came into the league with a chip on my shoulder to prove myself. I feel like I’m still proving myself every day when I step on the field. I don’t feel like I am there yet. I have a lot to learn.”

Porter performed like a player scorned all season but intends to maintain that attitude until the Steelers hoist the Lombardi Trophy.

“I got to win a couple of rings for that to go away,” said Porter.

Not only will the chip not go away, but neither will his confidence.

“It just might be a Porter thing that we all have. I was like that as a kid,” said Porter. “I always wanted the biggest task. I wanted to make the play.”

Being a first-year player was never too daunting for the son of Steelers legendary linebacker Joey Porter Sr.

“I wanted to be in those positions because I know some people get scared of the bright lights and I look forward to them. I just want to be in that moment every time.”

Porter has high expectations for himself in his second season. He’ll get to put on display everything he learned from year one and continue bullying the opposition’s best pass-catchers.

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Steelers CB Joey Porter Jr. named to the PFWA All-Rookie team

Joey Porter quickly became the Steelers best cornerback in 2023.

The Pro Football Writers of America put out its All-Rookie team and one member of the Pittsburgh Steelers made the team. the PFWA named Joey Porter Jr. as one of its cornerbacks, along with Seattle Seahawks cornerback Devon Witherspoon.

Two Steelers rookies who didn’t make the team were offensive tackle Broderick Jones and defensive tackle Keeanu Benton.

The PWFA went with Dawand Jones of the Cleveland Browns and Darnell Wright of the Chicago Bears instead. At defensive line, it was the Rams Kobie Turner and the Eagles Jalen Carter on the interior defensive line.

Pittsburgh got significant contributions from all three rookies also with rookie edge rusher Nick Herbig. Porter started 11 games in 2023 and quickly became the team’s No. 1 cover corner, shutting down he opposing team’s best receiver week after week.

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Steelers rookie CB Joey Porter Jr. sounds off after loss to Colts

Joey Porter Jr. wasn’t mincing words when it came to the team’s third straight loss of the season.

It’s the same reaction week after week from the Pittsburgh Steelers. Coupled with subpar play is the broken record statement from those who played in it: We played badly.

“We played like s–t today,” Joey Porter Jr. told reporters after the loss. “There’s no sugarcoating that.”

Porter had been playing lights out all season but had a down performance against the Indianapolis Colts, allowing just his second touchdown.

One thing he hasn’t done is give up on the team like it seems others have.

“We’re not happy how we performed — nobody is. We can’t give up now. We’ve got games left. I haven’t given up on the team.”

Earlier this week, Porter was asked about the “rookie wall” so many guys tend to hit at this point in their first year.

“It’s definitely a long season,” he said on Wednesday. “Around this time last year, I’d probably be getting ready for bowl prep, hanging out with the family. But we got more games left. With that aspect, it’s definitely mentally and physically draining, but this is what I signed up for. I’m not complaining. I get to do what I love every day.”

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Steelers CB Joey Porter keeps up shutdown streak

Joey Porter has locked down some of the best wide receivers in the NFL.

On Sunday, Pittsburgh Steelers rookie cornerback Joey Porter Jr. proved once again he is one of the best rookie cornerbacks in the NFL this season. Porter has been lined up against the opposition’s best cornerback the last five games and the results speak for themselves. Here’s how Porter has fared against some of the top receivers in the NFL.