Steelers cornerback Joey Porter Jr. (24) pumps up the crowd during a game against the Browns at Acrisure Stadium on Sunday, Oct. 12, 2025.
Steelers cornerback Joey Porter Jr. (24) pumps up the crowd during a game against the Browns at Acrisure Stadium on Sunday, Oct. 12, 2025.
Going Deep is a new weekly column from the Post-Gazette. The morning after every Steelers game, PG columnist Noah Hiles will share his observations and opinions from the game.
If there’s ever a time to be without your best defensive back, it’s when a third-string quarterback is running the opposing offense. Even still, for a brief moment Sunday, things became a tad worrisome at Acrisure Stadium.
It was just past the midpoint of the opening quarter. With the Steelers ahead 3-0, play was paused due to injury. The injured player? Steelers cornerback Jamel Dean.
This offseason, Dean signed a three-year, $36.75 million deal to leave Tampa Bay and come play on the North Shore. Dean’s importance to the team has skyrocketed as of late due to the absence of fellow cornerback Joey Porter Jr.
[Steelers cornerback Joey Porter Jr. sits on the sideline during the first half of an NFL football game against the Falcons at Acrisure Stadium, Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Pittsburgh.
Steelers cornerback Joey Porter Jr. sits on the sideline during the first half of an NFL football game against the Falcons at Acrisure Stadium, Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Pittsburgh.](https://www.post-gazette.com/sports/steelers/2026/09/13/joey-porter-contract-news/stories/202608300001)
There was some concern as Dean hobbled to the sideline and into the injury tent. Thankfully, he returned a few plays later and finished the game strong.
What if the Steelers don’t get so lucky next time around? That’s what we must wonder now that Porter’s contract holdout has bled into the regular season.
Porter, of course, sat out Sunday’s 20-13 win against the Atlanta Falcons. Before the game, sources told the Post-Gazette that he was healthy enough to play.
Coach Mike McCarthy played coy at his post-game press conference, saying Porter is still ramping up after he missed all of the training camp and the preseason due to a back injury.
McCarthy passed on the opportunity to directly confirm that Porter’s absence from the field was related to his contract dispute, saying “that’s not for me to speak on.”
But while this is indeed not McCarthy’s problem to fix, he should hope those above him in the team hierarchy figure something out soon.
The Steelers are a better team with Porter on the field. They play in a division with two of the most dynamic quarterbacks in the NFL and they will need him to be one of their best players if they hope to make a deep postseason run.
[Steelers linebacker T.J. Watt celebrates a sack during the first half of an NFL football game against the Falcons at Acrisure Stadium, Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Pittsburgh.
Steelers linebacker T.J. Watt celebrates a sack during the first half of an NFL football game against the Falcons at Acrisure Stadium, Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Pittsburgh.](https://www.post-gazette.com/sports/steelers/2026/09/13/steelers-falcons-tj-watt-touchdown/stories/202609130091)
Knowing this, it’s almost mind-numbing that the franchise has allowed this situation to drag on this long.
The Steelers found a way to pay three other players in Porter’s draft class before him, despite all of them holding a far less significant role on the team. Porter should’ve been the top priority.
Yes, negotiations are a two-way street. But Porter, perhaps more than anyone else on the Steelers defense, deserved to get what he wanted. If there was one player to overpay on this team, it was him.
The Post-Gazette also reported Sunday that the Steelers will not continue contract negotiations with Porter now that the regular season is underway, following a longstanding team policy. If that proves to be true — and there’s no reason to believe that it wouldn’t — only two options remain.
The first is to simply hope Porter comes around, that his one-game holdout sent a message and he hopes that message will be heard this offseason.
The second is to trade him for someone who is willing to suit up for the Steelers this season. Considering his backstory, that would be a true shame.
Porter is a hometown kid, the son of a Steelers legend who has made his own name for himself thanks to his stellar play. He offers plenty of promise, a skillset to build around moving forward. He should absolutely be a part of this franchise’s long-term plans and deserves to be upset that his future here isn’t solidified.
The Steelers didn’t miss him Sunday, but they will. They can’t afford to play this season without Joey Porter Jr. He knows it, and they do too.
Four down territory
First down: A heartwarming game ball
I’ll admit I’ve been a bit annoyed by all the attention the “McCarthy is coaching for his hometown team” narrative has received. But even a cynical columnist such as myself can appreciate what Sunday’s win meant to McCarthy.
It was heartwarming to see Aaron Rodgers, the player to whom he’s most connected to on the roster, present him with a game ball after the victory.
“Mike has had a lot of wins, but it’s always special when it’s the first one at a place and extra special when it’s the team you grew up cheering for,” Rodgers said.
McCarthy kept the hometown talk brief after the game, saying it was “emotional all day today.”
It’s easy to understand why.
Second down: Other hometown heroes
McCarthy wasn’t the only yinzer who experienced emotional moments Sunday.
Former WPIAL standouts Jaquan Brisker (Gateway) and Eli Heidenreich (Mt. Lebanon) made their Steelers debuts, as well. Both said it was a day they’ll never forget.
“It was different,” Brisker said. “Being in the city, in Pittsburgh, being at home and being with family the night before, it’s super exciting. Then for me, not playing in the preseason, this was my first actual game. I knew it was gonna be real and it was definitely different.”
Unlike Brisker, Heidenrich played plenty this preseason. The former Navy standout wasn’t as involved as Brisker, who had a key interception in the second quarter. But he contributed with two kickoff returns for 47 total yards.
While Brisker was still soaking everything in after Sunday’s win, Heidenreich said the game was the first time that things finally started to feel normal.
“I’ve had my moments and I’ve enjoyed them, took some time to really think about where I came from and where I’m at now,” Heidenreich told the Post-Gazette. “But the season is here and it’s time to play ball.”
Third down: More from Washington please
Steelers tight end Darnell Washington caught just one pass Sunday, but he made it count. One third and 3 with the Steelers aiming to put the game on ice, Washington snagged a pass from Rodgers and rumbled 15 yards to move the chains.
He absolutely demolished Falcons safety Xavier Watts in the process, stiff-arming him to the ground on a highlight-reel play.
GROWN MAN 💪
📲 Stream on NFL+: https://t.co/vqIDzYZB2x pic.twitter.com/57k7e9ZA2o
— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) September 13, 2026
McCarthy was asked about Washington’s involvement Sunday, and he insisted the tight end will get more opportunities as a receiver moving forward.
Fourth down: One man show
If there was one thing to be concerned about when evaluating the Steelers’ performance on defense, it was the inability to contain running back Bijan Robinson.
With their first two quarterbacks sidelined, the Falcons ran their entire offense through Robinson, who touched the ball 29 times for 173 total yards and their lone touchdown.
Robinson’s high-quality effort caught the attention of many, including Rodgers, who raved about the Falcons’ star during his post-game availability.
“I told him after the game, he’s a hell of a player,” Rodgers said. “I’ve watched him since he came in the league from afar. A lot of it’s just highlights and the highlights are incredible. … He’s super talented. I like his kind of whole demeanor and his versatility, and he’s a handful for sure.”
Most Valuable Player
T.J. Watt
This wasn’t a tough choice. Watt looked like the guy we’ve seen win the Steelers games for the past decade. He showed the football world that he’s still capable of being one of the game’s best.
Least Valuable Player
DK Metcalf
After underwhelming last season, Metcalf had a day to forget in Week 1. He was targeted 10 times but caught just four balls. He had multiple drops and was penalized twice for pass interference.
Yes, he was forced to try to make some tough plays. But as Year 2 in Pittsburgh begins, we’re still waiting for him to look like the elite talent he’s paid to be.
Quote(s) of the week
I asked Jack Sawyer what it was like to see Watt deliver another elite performance after seeing him struggle with injuries last season.
“It’s awesome,” Sawyer replied. “It’s especially awesome when you hear all the noise, the chatter about him last year. He comes out here and puts on a vintage T.J. Watt performance. It’s good to see that from him. He’s hungry, he works his ass off every day. Being around him is motivating.”
I followed up by playfully asking if the younger players let Watt know that he still impressed them despite his older age.
“He’s always had it and always will have it,” Sawyer said. “T.J. Watt is one of the best outside linebackers to ever play this game. Every time he steps on the field, it’s showtime. And it’s that much sweeter, especially after the stuff he had to deal with last year.
“Being hurt, hearing the noise about him being older and not as productive, I think he shut those guys up today about all that junk, about him being too old and washed up.”
One lingering question
What would a Porter trade even look like?
I never gave much thought about the Steelers actually entertaining a Porter trade — until now.
I’m curious as to what he’d even net in return and if it could come close to exceeding the value he’d provide if extended to a new contract. I guess we might find out over the next few weeks.
One Week 2 prediction
The Steelers will run the ball more than they throw next week.
The Steelers can’t pass 40 times every game, especially when they are ahead for most of the action. The run game has to be better and I expect McCarthy will address it before next week’s showdown against the New England Patriots.
First Published: September 14, 2026, 1:00 a.m.