Steelers Now
CINCINNATI — As the Pittsburgh Steelers continued to try to solve how to stop Ja’Marr Chase, cornerback Joey Porter Jr. headed off the field and into the blue medical tent on the sideline during the third quarter.
Porter jogged back and forth in front of the trainers afterward, then sat down. Brandin Echols replaced him as Cincinnati marched closer to a field goal that made it a 10-point game nearly midway through the frame.
As the Cincinnati Bengals faced a fourth-and-1 on the Steelers’ 9-yard line, Chase had piled up 99 yards and a score on 11 receptions, including four on his team’s initial drive of the third quarter. Jalen Ramsey tried his hand at limiting Chase for most of the first half, but Ramsey and Porter were both flagged for a few pass interference calls.
Ramsey made it known during a training camp appearance on “The Pivot” podcast that he wanted to be the guy to blanket Chase during the Steelers’ matchups with the Bengals.
“That’s me,” Ramsey said. “That’s J. That’s (No.) 5 for now. And Joey’s gonna get his (opportunities). But that’s 5 right now. That’s 5.”
At the time, Ramsey also revealed the dynamic in the group.
“They know who’s going first,” Ramsey said. “And Slay’s so chill, right? Slay’s my dog, me and Slay have a great relationship. Slay already knew what type of timing I was on. … He was like, ‘Nah, J, I need that.’ I’m like, ‘After me, though. You gonna get that action. After me. Let me do my thing, then you’re gonna get your action.’”
This article originally appeared on Steelers Now: Steelers Lose Joey Porter Jr. to Injury vs. Bengals
