Cowboys and Lions Kick the Tires on Joey Porter Jr. as Steelers Standoff Gets Weird

The Pittsburgh Steelers are currently pretending Joey Porter Jr. has a bad back, but the Dallas Cowboys and Detroit Lions are apparently willing to see if a new contract miraculously cures him.

ESPN's Adam Schefter reported Sunday that a handful of teams, headlined by Dallas and Detroit, have started making trade inquiries about the 26-year-old cornerback. Porter has not played a snap this season, officially sidelined with a lower lumbar issue that conveniently overlaps with a massive financial standoff.

"Adam Schefter reported that a handful of teams have begun making inquiries about Porter's availability."

This is the kind of standoff that only ends in a blockbuster trade or a very awkward locker room apology. Steelers general manager Omar Khan has a strict policy of not negotiating extensions during the season. Porter has a strict policy of not risking his body for a team that will not pay him. It is an unstoppable force meeting an immovable wallet.

You can see why NFC contenders are circling the waters. Porter was a finalist for Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2023, holding opposing receivers to a hilarious 47.6 percent completion rate. Last year, he racked up 14 passes defensed and an interception in 14 games. He is a true shutdown corner, which is exactly what you need if you plan on surviving the NFC playoff gauntlet.

For the Cowboys, adding Porter would be a massive swing ahead of their Sunday night clash with the Baltimore Ravens. Dallas just dropped 37 points on the Washington Commanders, but their secondary could use a lockdown anchor to shift their defensive futures odds. Meanwhile, the Lions are gearing up for the New York Jets and would love nothing more than to drop a premier corner into their aggressive scheme.

Pittsburgh is coming off an ugly 20-3 loss to the New England Patriots and has to figure out their identity before hosting the Cincinnati Bengals this weekend. If the Steelers are truly refusing to budge on a new deal, they need to cash in on Porter before his trade value starts taking a hit. Expect the rumors to get a lot louder if he is officially ruled out again on Sunday.