The Pittsburgh Steelers and Joey Porter Jr. are currently in a tough situation. Porter wants a contract extension, but he and the Steelers couldn’t come to terms before the season began. The Steelers don’t do contract negotiations during the season, so they expect Porter to play out the final year of his deal.

However, Porter didn’t play in Week 1, and it seems like he’s got a real chance to also miss Week 2. The Steelers are saying he’s dealing with a back injury, but that’s likely a cover for a hold in.

It sounds like Porter is fed up with the situation, according to NFL insider Ari Meirov.

“From my knowledge, he’s pissed off and really, really upset,” Meirov said recently on his NFL Spotlight podcast. “I’m not really sure if he wants to stay in Pittsburgh, but I don’t know if he really has a choice… If they do trade him, my understanding is a contract will not be necessary… I don’t think a contract will be a must over here.

“I think he’s willing to play it out. I just don’t think he wants to be in Pittsburgh anymore, with the way all of this happened. And the policy of they’re not going to negotiate anymore, so that’s done. I think he’s just over the entire situation, so he wants to be somewhere else.”

🔥 Burning questions entering Week 2 with @SamMonsonNFL:

Timestamps:
* 0:55 – Intro: Week 1 is a liar
* 2:04 – Bears offense: Legendary?
* 4:24 – Ben Johnson vs. Brian Flores
* 8:23 – Matt LaFleur feeling the pressure?
* 12:43 – Are the Chiefs all the way back?
* 16:08 – Titans:… pic.twitter.com/dm6UtTmYj9

— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) September 17, 2026

That’s an unfortunate update. Porter has strong ties to Pittsburgh, with his father being a significant player in their history. It was great to see the Steelers draft him, and he really looked like he was coming into his own last year. However, things seem to have broken down between the two sides.

The Steelers don’t want to trade Porter. They believe they’re Super Bowl contenders, and getting rid of their top corner doesn’t align with that goal. However, if Meirov is correct, then Porter might refuse to ever suit up for the Steelers again. That leaves them with few options, especially with Porter claiming that he’s injured.

If the Steelers were to trade Porter, him not asking another team for an extension could make the deal easier. Based on what Porter has reportedly asked for, other teams might hesitate to sacrifice draft capital and a large chunk of money for him.

However, it might be easier for the Steelers to move Porter if he’s not asking for a new deal. Trading him isn’t ideal, but the Steelers might have to consider it if Porter continues to miss games.

This situation feels like it’s getting ugly. Porter’s teammates have his back, but Pittsburgh’s front office made it clear that it isn’t changing its contract negotiation policy. Even if Porter plays for the Steelers this year, it sounds like he’s ready for a change of scenery.

This isn’t good news, but it is what it is at this point. The Steelers don’t want to negotiate with Porter, and Porter doesn’t want to play for them without a new deal. At some point, something has to give. With each day that passes, a trade feels more and more likely.