Steelers Get Concerning Injury Update for CB Joey Porter Jr.

Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Joey Porter Jr. was able to return to the playing field after he was initially injured against the Baltimore Ravens on Saturday, leading to the possibility that the Steelers’ top cornerback might not have to miss much time with the injury.

But Porter will not play against the Kansas City Chiefs on Wednesday, and it doesn’t seem that he’s particularly close to a return, either.

After Porter tried to return to the game against the Ravens, he came back out of the game for good and it was determined that what was initially suspected as a calf injury was actually to his right knee.

Porter is suspected to have suffered a PCL sprain, an injury that usually takes at least a couple of weeks to heal up. Steelers running back Jaylen Warren missed two weeks with that same injury earlier this season, and was less than 100% when he returned the third week.

Not only did the team rule Porter out on Tuesday, they announced that he did not practice at all this week, not a strong sign that he’s close to a return from the injury.

Porter doesn’t have the luxury of too much time. The Steelers will be playing in a playoff game the weekend of Jan. 11-12.

With Porter out, the Steelers will turn to a combination of James Pierre and Cory Trice Jr. at outside cornerback alongside Donte Jackson.

Jackson is expected to make his return from injury after missed the second half of the Philadelphia Eagles game and all of last week’s contest with a pinched nerve in his back.