Steelers reveal return date for Joey Porter Jr., per ESPN's Adam Schefter - Steelers Wire

The Pittsburgh Steelers have reportedly revealed when disgruntled cornerback Joey Porter Jr. will return to NFL game-day action.

According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, the Steelers aren't giving up on Joey Porter Jr.'s 2026 season and are planning on the star cornerback making his regular season debut against the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 3. This all still depends on his conditioning level and back injury, however.

"The Pittsburgh Steelers are planning for Joey Porter Jr., who has missed the first two games of the season, to potentially return for their Week 3 game against the Cincinnati Bengals, sources told ESPN," Schefter wrote. "But whether or not Porter actually does return is a bit more ambiguous and is connected to the star cornerback's back injury and conditioning level."

Emerging as one of the league's top cornerbacks over the past three seasons, Porter is in the final year of his rookie deal and was seeking a long-term extension with the Steelers. A deal couldn't be struck before the Steelers' self-imposed deadline, however, as the team doesn't negotiate contracts midseason.

Porter missed training camp with a back injury, and despite being ramped up in practice for an eventual return, the situation seems far more complicated than meets the eye. Some have even speculated that the absence has less to do with the back injury and more to do with the failed contract talks.

With Porter now set to miss Weeks 1 and 2, a possible return date of next Sunday's game against Cincinnati is welcome news for Steelers fans. That is, if the mysterious back injury doesn't rear its ugly head once again.

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