Steelers Now
UNITY TWP., Pa. — Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Joey Porter Jr. is in full pads after missing the last three practices with a hand injury.
The Steelers have been dealing with a number of injuries at the cornerback position, with Porter, Cory Trice (hamstring) and Donte Kent (ankle/foot) all missing the team’s practice session on Sunday. Trice and Kent remain out.
The Steelers signed former Buffalo Bills and Miami Hurricanes defensive back Daryl Porter Jr., following a successful workout. The workout also included former first-round pick C.J. Henderson.
Joey Porter Jr. also back from injury and in pads. https://t.co/RAlmvGImpY pic.twitter.com/ODBRAAwBki
— Alan Saunders (@ASaunders_PGH) August 5, 2025
Last season, Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Joey Porter Jr. was the most penalized cornerback in the league, but having a Super Bowl champion to learn from in Darius Slay could be beneficial.
Slay revealed in an interview with Mina Kimes of ESPN this offseason that he wants to not only help fix Porter’s issues with penalties, but also improve his game in the interceptions department. Porter has only two INTs through his first two seasons.
“They say he can’t catch, but we’re gonna fix that,” Slay told Kimes. “We’re gonna catch the rock this year.”
Slay has recorded 28 interceptions in his decorated career. The 34-year-old cornerback is a Super Bowl champion, eight-time Pro Bowler and has a first-team All-Pro selection (2017) under his belt. Slay hopes to give Porter and the Steelers young cornerbacks he same wisdom that he passed down to Philadelphia Eagles rookie cornerbacks Cooper DeJean and Quinyon Mitchell last season during their Super Bowl title run.
“I have a good resume with younger guys, trying to help build them,” Slay said. “That’s my job. I’m just here to help him, do everything I can to make sure he succeeds at what he does. And try to get him to be one of the best in the game.”
Porter will also have All-Pro cornerback Jalen Ramsey as a mentor in 2025. Both Slay and Ramsey are two very different cornerbacks from a stylistic standpoint, further proving that there’s more than one way to get the job done effectively. But there are elements from each of their games that Porter would be wise to try and emulate.
Porter revealed that the addition of Slay will have lasting effects on him past just the 2025 season.
“I told him I used to watch his tape growing up,” Porter said. “I know a lot of guys don’t like when I say that because they feel old, but he’s been in this league for a long time. He’s a great vet. I’ve had some great vets before him. I’m just happy to have him in the building and keep learning from him.”
Alan Saunders provided reporting from St. Vincent College.
This article originally appeared on Steelers Now: Steelers Get Good News on Joey Porter Jr.
