Joey

Porter Jr.

Porter missed Week 17 but appears to be in good health now. He practiced in full Tuesday through Thursday. The Steelers are currently jockeying for playoff seeding so Porter’s return is meaningful. He and Ja’Marr Chase should take a fair number of snaps against each other.

Porter Jr., Pittsburgh’s best cornerback this year, looks likely to be healthy and ready to go in Week 18 against Cincinnati. He left Week 16’s tout against the Ravens with the injury and missed Week 17’s Christmas loss to the Chiefs.

The Steelers do get Donte Jackson back, but will have to rely on depth corners against Kansas City’s talented receiving corps. Porter Jr. did not practice in any of the three Steelers’ sessions this week and should be considered questionable for Week 18 at this point as well.

Porter Jr. departed in the first quarter following a tackle on Ravens running back Derrick Henry and was almost immediately deemed questionable to return. It’s poor timing for a team already without cornerback Donte Jackson.

The Jim Thorpe Award is awarded annually to the best defensive back in the nation, and Penn State boasts two of the best in Brown (5'11/205) and Porter. Last season, Brown totaled 73 tackles and six interceptions -- receiving a PFF coverage grade of 77.5. Porter managed 46 tackles and one interception in 2021 while allowing 33 receptions for 370 yards and two touchdowns per PFF -- receiving a coverage grade of 70.1 Playing in a stout Big Ten, both Brown and Porter could catch the eyes of voters if Penn State replicates their defensive success from last season. The Lions ranked seventh in points per game allowed last season (17.3), but have lost several key players on the defensive side of the ball.

Porter (6'2/185) is the son of former Steelers LB Joey Porter. He is a talented recruit even beyond the known name, landing on the 247Sports composite board as the No. 322 overall prospect in the 2019 class.