Toronto Star
· collected 2026-09-14 · by Will Graves The Associated Press
Mike McCarthy, the coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers, declined to comment specifically on Joey Porter Jr.'s back injury and contract status during a game against Atlanta. Porter, considered one of the league’s top defensive backs but currently dealing with a back issue and unresolved contract negotiations, was made inactive for the match. McCarthy stated that this decision was his alone, emphasizing Porter's ongoing rehabilitation process and hinting at an unclear timeline for his return to play. The article highlights concerns about how Porter's absence and contractual uncertainty might affect both player morale and team dynamics as upcoming challenges in the NFL season loom large.
Written by the local model on 2026-09-15,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Mike McCarthy is pretty much over talking about Joey Porter Jr.‘s back and his contract situation.
asserted
McCarthy → talk → back
Until one or the other is resolved — having both go away seems unlikely in the short term — the Pittsburgh Steelers coach might have to.
uncertain
coach → resolve → term
While McCarthy’s debut for his hometown team was largely successful against injury-ravaged Atlanta, Porter’s uncertain status and the attention it is getting could end McCarthy’s honeymoon period sooner rather than later.
uncertain
it → ravage → period
The club opted to make Porter inactive on Sunday, a decision that McCarthy called his and his alone, as the fourth-year pro continues to recover from a back injury that forced him to miss a big chunk of training camp, all of it set against the backdrop of stalled contract negotiations that seem destined to drag into next offseason.
asserted
that → opt → offseason
The Steelers had little trouble without one of the league’s top defensive backs against third-string Atlanta quarterback Cooper Rush, though the challenge will ramp up considerably over the next two weeks against New England and Cincinnati.
asserted
challenge → have → England
McCarthy remained vague on when Porter might be ready, though he said he hopes Porter will be able to take another step forward when the team returns to practice on Wednesday.
uncertain
team → remain → Wednesday
While everyone from general manager Omar Khan to longtime defensive tackle Cam Heyward believes Porter will be in Pittsburgh for the bulk of his career, the optics around his on-field absence feel strange.
asserted
optics → believe → absence
McCarthy has repeatedly described the nature of Porter’s work since being activated off the physically unable to perform list two weeks ago as a “ramp-up” period.
asserted
McCarthy → describe → period
He also said he was “impressed” while watching Porter up close for a couple of reps last Thursday.
asserted
he → say → reps
He just didn’t see enough, it seems, to feel Porter was one of the 48 best players available.
asserted
Porter → see → players
Trying to distinguish perception from reality is tricky.
asserted
Trying → try → reality
Porter’s teammates have said to a man they believe it’s time for him to get paid.
asserted
him → say → man
And when asked about it in the locker room after keeping the Falcons winless all time in Pittsburgh, several of them were unsure whether his absence was because of his back or his lack of a long-term deal.
asserted
absence → ask → deal
Even McCarthy allowed he’s not sure how the uncertainty might affect Porter whenever he is cleared.
uncertain
he → allow → Porter
“When you have to deal with business during the season ... it’s not easy,” McCarthy said.
asserted
McCarthy → have → season
“I think it’s an individual situation that every individual handles differently.”
asserted
individual → think → that
How Porter and his coach handle it could play a factor when the glow from McCarthy’s feel-good homecoming will fade.
uncertain
glow → handle → homecoming
What’s working
Paying edge rushers an avalanche of money.
asserted
working → work → money
The Steelers have more than $67 million in cap space tied up in T.J. Watt, Alex Highsmith, and Nick Herbig.
asserted
Steelers → have → Watt
It certainly looks like money well spent after the trio frequently created chaos in the Atlanta backfield.
asserted
trio → look → backfield
If they can stay healthy — all three missed multiple games last season because of injury — then Pittsburgh will have a chance to remain competitive in a division that includes what looks like two of the most explosive offenses in the NFL in Cincinnati and Baltimore.
asserted
what → stay → Cincinnati
What needs help
The rebuilt offensive line did little to create running lanes for Jaylen Warren and Rico Dowdle.
asserted
line → need → Warren
Pittsburgh ran for just 58 yards against a largely anonymous Falcons front seven, though Warren managed to rip off a handful of clock-chewing plays during the Steelers’ final drive.
asserted
Warren → run → drive
While quarterback Aaron Rodgers wasn’t really joking when he said afterward he hopes Pittsburgh keeps throwing it, a little balance could go a long way to opening things up downfield in the passing game.
uncertain
balance → joke → game
At some point, defenders will learn to stop trying to go high to tackle mountainous 6-foot-7 tight end Darnell Washington.
asserted
defenders → learn → Washington
Until that happens, expect more highlight plays such as the one Washington delivered late in the fourth quarter when he threw Falcons safety Xavier Watts — 7 inches shorter and easily 80 pounds lighter — to the ground with a stiff-arm during a 15-yard catch-and-run that helped seal the game.
asserted
that → happen → game
Honorable mention goes to the historically brutal Acrisure Stadium turf.
asserted
mention → go → turf
The field has been resodded this year, and the early returns have been promising, with things holding up just fine the day after a rain storm during the college game between Pitt and UCF.
asserted
things → resodde → Pitt
Metcalf considers himself one of the best wide receivers in the league, and his $132 million contract pays him like one.
asserted
contract → consider → one
His quest to put an underwhelming — by his standards — 2025 behind him didn’t get off to a great start.
asserted
quest → put → start
He dropped a couple of passes and was flagged twice for offensive pass interference.
asserted
He → drop → interference
The 6-4, 225-pound Metcalf is a physical marvel and plays with tremendous effort, but that effort needs to turn into production for Pittsburgh to become the offense McCarthy envisions.
asserted
McCarthy → play → production
The Steelers emerged from Week 1 practically unscathed, a welcome development for one of the older teams in the league, particularly on defense.
asserted
Steelers → emerge → defense
Key number
2 — the number of players since sacks became an official statistic in 1982 to have 100-plus sacks and 10-plus interceptions in their career: Watt and Hall of Famer Julius Peppers.
asserted
sacks → become → Famer
Next steps
Head to New England to try to do what they did on the road last September: pull off an upset against Drake Maye and the Patriots.
asserted
they → head → Maye
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