Three Rivers Report: Did the Steelers lie about Joey Porter Jr’s injury?
PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA - AUGUST 13: Joey Porter Jr. #24 of the Pittsburgh Steelers looks on during the game against the Green Bay Packers at Acrisure Stadium on August 13, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images) | Getty ImagesAs the saga between the Pittsburgh Steelers and cornerback Joey Porter, Jr continues, a Steelers reporter believes there is something off about Porter, Jr's back injury," and the connection to his search for a contract extension. While the former Penn State cornerback would have sat out any team activities while holding in," Alan Saunders of Steelers Now has a different theory.
At its core, a hold in' is just lying to the team about your health," Saunders writes. That's what it is for every player. The league has at least tacitly accepted the practice. But I feel like once you start lying to the team, and to the public, about what's going on, you get down a slippery slope that leads to where we are."
Porter lied about his injury. Then his agent either lied to national reporters or asked them to lie for him. No team is calling the Steelers about trading for Joey Porter Jr., and the Steelers have absolutely zero interest in fielding such calls. It's not a scenario that is even remotely likely right now."
Regardless of whether the injury was real, the hold in" is real and both sides would be better off getting a deal done sooner rather than later.
For now, here is Thursday's Three Rivers Report.
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