Category: Joey Porter Jr.

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.

Steelers CB Joey Porter Jr. had one request for Mike Tomlin

Steelers rookie Joey Porter Jr. made his first NFL start at corner versus the Titans.

Joey “Penalties” Porter made a big statement in his first NFL start last night. The Pittsburgh Steelers rookie covered veteran receiver DeAndre Hopkins for most of the game and, despite penalties, was pretty darn stellar at it. On 11 targets, Hopkins was held to just 60 yards and four receptions. The Atlanta Falcons, boasting one of the best secondaries in the league, gave up 130 yards and three touchdowns in Week 8.

Porter personally asked Mike Tomlin to shadow the three-time All-Pro, and his wish was granted. “On Tuesday, I went to Coach T and told him, ‘I want 10,’” Porter told reporters after the win. “That’s what I was looking for. I don’t really hide from nothing. I said, ‘That’s the matchup I want, that’s the matchup I need.”

“Definitely a ticky-tac call, but it’s DHop, so he’s always physical on the top of his route,” Porter said. “You kinda gotta play that game with him, and sometimes you’re not gonna get it, sometimes you are.”

He got it last night with John Hussey‘s flag-happy crew. There were 20 penalties between the Steelers and Titans — four (one offset the other and was declined) were on Porter, each for first downs. His final penalty was on a critical fourth down, which extended the drive and could’ve won Tennessee the game.

Porter is a handsy player, dating back to his days at Penn State. But he’s quickly proving to be a shutdown corner, and that’s all that matters in the scheme of things.

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Steelers continue to make Joey Porter Jr. earn snaps

Stop all the pussy-footing around already.

Typically, in the NFL, if a player is the best in his unit, he starts. But, no, not with the Pittsburgh Steelers. It’s enough to make you want to bang your head on the wall.

That player is everyone’s favorite new Steeler, Joey Porter Jr., who heads into his eighth game as a pro without a start. Even though he’s shutting down receivers — while Patrick Peterson and Levi Wallace are not — his snaps have been limited.

“I thought he handled himself well,” secondary coach-turned-defensive coordinator Teryl Austin said of Porter. “He did some really good things coverage-wise. You know, it’s what we talk about every week, is the more he plays, the better he plays, the more he progresses, the more snaps he gets, then he’ll earn those snaps, and I think he earned those last week and he’ll continue to do that.”

Porter has shown patience that Mike Tomlin has preached, even if Steelers fans haven’t. “You definitely want to be out there for the first snap and hear your name called, but sometimes you’ve got to take a back seat and wait a little bit,” Porter said Thursday via TribLive’s Joe Rutter.

In limited duty (96 snaps), Porter has allowed just one 12-yard reception. On 10 targets, he’s forced three incompletions and snagged an interception for a 0.0 passer rating.

We’re all baffled as to how the Steelers are 4-2 with one of the worst offenses (31st – yards; 27th – points) AND defenses (30th – yards; 17th – points) in the NFL. While those numbers don’t tell the whole story, the secondary is the Achilles heel of the team, with the run defense in close second.

Suppose they want to get to 5-2 (and why wouldn’t they?!), the Steelers need their secondary to play better in coverage against a Jacksonville Jaguars offense that is 9th in points and 14th in yards. They have to slow Trevor Lawrence down if they have any hope of winning this one.

Getting Porter involved early and often is the key, whether he starts or not. That first start could come today, by default, if Wallace (foot) can’t go. Per Pittsburgh’s final injury report, the rookie’s status is also questionable with a calf injury, but told Steelers media on Friday that he will play.

We’ll see how things go in warm-ups and who winds up on the inactive list.

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Steelers CB Joey Porter Jr. has a weakness that could delay his opportunity to start

Other than being generally stubborn with rookies, there could be a reason Mike Tomlin is handling JPJ with kid gloves.

Mike Tomlin is being careful with Joey Porter Jr. — almost to a fault. He’s been the best cornerback in the Pittsburgh Steelers secondary, which isn’t saying much for a 24th-ranked unit that’s surrendered the eighth-most yards in the NFL. Although Porter has shown time and time again that he has the chops to be in the starting lineup, his snaps remain limited.

Mark Madden, the Pittsburgh media member everyone loves to hate, had an interesting analogy for Porter being the team’s best corner: “[It’s] akin to being the smartest man in prison.”

All players have flaws, and Madden highlighted Porter’s glaring shortcoming in his latest column for TribLive: tackling. It could be what makes Tomlin hesitant to plug him in (in addition to his overall stubbornness with rookies).

“The job of a cornerback isn’t to tackle,” Madden wrote. “Deion Sanders never did it. A cornerback’s main duty is to cover. Porter can do that. Porter has the potential to erase one side of the field, like he did at Penn State. The Steelers need to better explore that potential. Sooner, not later.”

The head-scratcher is that Patrick Peterson and Levi Wallace aren’t great tacklers, either. So why not go with the guy with more upside and the future of the cornerbacks room? Throw the rookie label out the window and embrace the legacy label instead.

Nick Farabaugh, beat writer for Steelers Now, noted that Porter struggled in tackling drills in training camp. Secondary coach Grady Brown should make this weakness a point of emphasis in daily practice for Porter.

Porter has been more than adequate in the role he was drafted for, which is shutting down receivers. Again, a limited sample size, but in 76 coverage snaps (36 press), he’s allowed only one reception for 12 yards and no touchdowns for a completion percentage of .143. Meanwhile, Peterson has allowed a 109.8 passer rating and Wallace 87.4.

The Steelers should let Porter roll and do what they essentially used a first-round pick for. He can’t be any worse than the starters.

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Joey Porter Jr. blasts ‘old ass’ Odell Beckham, Jr. after game-sealing interception

Joey Porter Jr. gave Odell Beckham hell after intercepting what should’ve been a sure-fire TD.

Joey Porter Jr. made his first career pick at the most opportune time against arguably their fiercest rival. He made Baltimore Ravens’ Lamar Jackson pay on a poorly thrown ball to Odell Beckham Jr. with a game-sealing interception. And to add salt to the wound, Porter recalled his response to the veteran wide receiver.

“I’m like, go ahead, run that,” Porter said on the sideline after the play. “I already knew it was coming. I strapped his old ass. I told him.”

The rookie and Steelers legacy is inching himself closer and closer to a starting role. Though defensive coordinator Teryl Austin said it’s not yet his time, they’d be silly not to get him more involved the way the secondary has performed to this point.

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Steelers’ Joey Porter Jr. is PFF’s highest-graded CB in Week 5

It’s hard to argue PFF grades when they favor the Pittsburgh Steelers. 

The way Joey Porter Jr. has been playing, though in limited fashion, it was just a matter of time before even the most fickle evaluator took notice. Pro Football Focus gave Porter a grade of 91.3 — the highest of any corner in Week 5 — for his outstanding performance against the Baltimore Ravens. It’s hard to argue PFF grades when they favor the Pittsburgh Steelers.

All the rookie’s been doing since he took the field is making plays, and Sunday’s win over the Ravens was no different. He covered veteran wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. like a blanket all game long, but no coverage was more critical than when Baltimore was in scoring position on a third down late in the game.

What better way to snag your first career pick than against the storied rival Ravens in the end zone of a fourth-quarter two-point game? It doesn’t get much better than that.

“I’m the rookie out there against Odell Beckham on a third down,” Porter said after the game. “I always kinda had that in the back of my mind that they were gonna try me on this play.”

It won’t be long until quarterbacks learn not to throw in his direction. It happened at Penn State and is about to happen in the NFL.

“Inside the NFL” highlighted Porter’s interception, which can be seen here.

Porter’s been targeted seven times through five games and 76 coverage snaps. Only one reception (12 yards) was allowed on those targets, two passes were broken up, and, of course, there was the interception of Lamar Jackson on the throw to Beckham. Porter’s 0.0 passer rating allowed is the best in the NFL.

Mike Tomlin must stop wasting his talent, especially in a suspect secondary. Tomlin has always brought rookies along slowly, but there’s no reason to hold him back when you’re playing lights out like Porter.

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