Joey Porter Jr. was traded from the Pittsburgh Steelers after his mysterious "back injury" and potential contract issues sidelined him early in the 2026 season, but the situation appears to be just as bad with the Dallas Cowboys.
Porter made his Cowboys debut in Week 4, playing just 24 snaps on defense. But as for Week 5? He was ruled out at the last minute with a shocking illness. Things got even weirder in Week 6, as Porter somehow picked up an ankle injury and was limited on Wednesday. He was able to upgrade to full participation on Thursday, and Cowboys co-owner Stephen Jones claimed that Porter was excited to play for Dallas — that was until Friday's practice report revealed limited participation and a questionable Week 6 status.
Stephen Jones told us this hour on @1053thefan they are assured Joey Porter Junior is excited to play for the Cowboys and then moments later the practice report is out and I'm just not sure what to think. pic.twitter.com/URHyLcnOv4
— Gavin Dawson (@gavindawson) October 16, 2026
This latest update begs the question: What on earth is going on with Porter? More specifically, is there more to his recent back, illness and ankle injury designations than meets the eye? Some, like NFL legend Richard Sherman, have speculated that Porter's absences have more to do with contractual issues than health setbacks.
The Cowboys, like the Steelers, reportedly aren't looking to negotiate a long-term deal with Porter at this time and are instead waiting until the end of the 2026 season. As things stand right now, Pittsburgh looks like the clear winner in this Porter trade, as Dallas can't seem to even get him on the field.
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This article originally appeared on Steelers Wire: Steelers dodge a bullet as Joey Porter Jr. drama gets stranger with Cowboys