Steelers may need to call on 'avatar' insurance policy if Joey Porter Jr. struggles

What we witnessed from Joey Porter Jr. in Week 13 against the Bengals is something no Steelers fan ever wishes to see again. After Pittsburgh's defense held Cincinnati's offense to a quick three-and-out, things were looking good. That's when quarterback Joe Burrow learned he could pick on Porter.

Porter's second NFL season in 2024 has been a rollercoaster ride. After not allowing a catch in his coverage against the Baltimore Ravens in a defensive-aided Week 11 win, Porter plummeted back down to earth in Week 12 against the Browns when he allowed five catches on five targets for 52 yards and a penalty.

Then things went from bad to worse.

Against the Bengals, Porter was exposed early and often. His unnecessary grabbiness led to an astounding six penalties (two of which were declined). Though Porter only gave up two catches for 19 yards on paper, his penalties routinely gave the Bengals a fresh set of downs to work with and even led to touchdowns.

Two of Porter's penalties came in the endzone -- giving Cincinnati a fresh set of downs at the one-yard line. This made it all too easy for the Bengals to score, and it's part of the reason why Pittsburgh's 4-8 opponent was able to effortlessly rack up 38 points (31 of which came on offense).

This incriminating showing from Porter resulted in the cornerback earning a dismal 32.4 overall grade from Pro Football Focus -- the worst of his NFL career. Unfortunately, this isn't the first time Porter's play has stooped this low. The lengthy CB recorded a 33.4 PFF grade in Week 10 against Washington when he allowed six catches on seven targets for 131 yards while recording three penalties.

Porter's inconsistencies and unwillingness to adjust his playstyle could cost this team dearly if he has a dud performance in the playoffs, and Porter should be on thin ice.

Steelers have an insurance policy waiting if Porter stumbles again

Let's be clear: the Pittsburgh Steelers are very unlikely to turn the page on the 32nd overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft in his second season. But sometimes it takes a swift benching for a player to come to his senses and make changes to his game (ask Broderick Jones).

If Porter has another abysmal performance, the Steelers could send him to the sidelines and replace him with another 'avatar' cornerback: Cory Trice Jr.

Trice will soon be returning from a hamstring injury that landed him on IR in Week 3. While he's not the most experienced defensive back, Trice was playing outstanding football prior to suffering an injury during the Chargers game early in the year.

At 6'3'' and 206 pounds with long arms and 4.47 speed, Trice could effortlessly slide into Porter's role. Not only would this give Porter a chance to learn from his mistakes while in the doghouse, but it would also give the Steelers a much-needed extended look at Trice -- a talented cornerback who would have been an early Day 2 draft pick if not for an extensive injury history.

The worst that could happen is literally what we've already seen from Porter in recent weeks. Trice either gives up 100+ yards or commits a hat trick of penalties. This isn't anything we aren't used to seeing from Porter.

I'm not suggesting that a switch should be permanent, but at this point, Porter could really use a wake-up call. The talented cornerback needs to start trusting himself and stop grabbing to slow down receivers.

With Pittsburgh's struggles in the secondary this season, there's no reason Cory Trice shouldn't at least be given the shot to prove himself. Perhaps the Steelers could kill two birds with one stone by getting a great look at Trice while also teaching Porter a lesson.