Steelers CB Joey Porter Jr. Bulks Up During Offseason

 May and June remain infamous in football circles, particularly in sports media. Why? While the preseason hype is a normal emotion, everyone is in the best shape of their life this time of year. For example, Najee Harris has slimmed down, and sure, he has, but what’s the purpose, how much, and what is the context behind it? There are easy guesses, like adding more explosiveness, but until Harris speaks, those remain questions. Second-year cornerback Joey Porter Jr. bulked up five pounds over the offseason.

The best shape of his life? Maybe, maybe not. But Porter added those five pounds for a practical purpose. He harped on his ability to tackle in run support and what he thinks is a weaker punch in press coverage as reasons he needed to bulk up from 200 pounds to 205 pounds.

“I feel good,” Porter said. “Really, I’m feeling confident right now. It was about five pounds, maybe. I’m really trying to play at 205 last year. I fluctuate from 198 to 200. It’s kinda weird because I’m big for my position, so being 200 was not a big deal for me. But at 205 I can be physical in the run game and on the line.”

Joey Porter Jr. has already started experimenting with it, roughing up wide receiver Deuce Watts at the line of scrimmage. While that is an example without pads, Porter wants to showcase that with pads on and hopes that by the time training camp rolls around, his physicality and new-look punch in the press are ready to go.