Joey Porter Jr. sends alarming Week 1 message to Steelers amid contract standoff

A Tuesday report indicated that the contract standoff involving the Pittsburgh Steelers and cornerback Joey Porter Jr. could soon get ugly regarding the Steelers' Week 1 home game against the Atlanta Falcons on Sept. 13.

It now seems like Porter may not suit up for the Steelers if he remains in the final year of his contract through the second weekend of September. 

Joey Porter Jr. not yet committed to playing for Steelers in Week 1

As shared by ESPN's Brooke Pryor, Porter was asked on Tuesday afternoon whether he would play against the Falcons if he doesn't have a signed extension in hand. 

"I don’t know," Porter responded. "I have to talk to the guys upstairs, my agents about that one."

Porter spent the majority of August on the physically unable to perform list after he reportedly aggravated a back injury on the first day of training camp. According to Alan Saunders of Steelers Now, Porter said that he was on the practice field on Tuesday. The 26-year-old also insisted that the back issue is why he hadn't been practicing throughout the preseason. 

On Monday, Steelers general manager Omar Khan revealed that the club's policy of pausing contract talks with players once a regular season gets underway was "going to remain in place." Khan also said the Steelers expected that Porter would participate in practice after being taken off the PUP list. 

On Tuesday, Porter had a second opportunity to confirm that he would play against the Falcons if he is "healthy" at that time. 

"Yeah, for sure," Porter initially responded. However, he then added: "Maybe." 

Joey Porter Jr. reflects on "tough" process

It remains unclear exactly what Porter wants attached to a contract extension, but he reportedly does not expect to become the league's new highest-paid cornerback. Devon Witherspoon of the Seattle Seahawks set the market for players at the position in August when he signed a four-year, $132M deal. 

"It's been tough, not going to lie," Porter added about his situation, per Josh Carney of Steelers Depot. "This is my first go-round with this, but it's also been great because I have all my guys with me. All the coaches and players are really on my side, and they understand everything about the business side of things. It's not really too much to go about; it's been a little bit tough, but at the end of the day it is what it is."

Last week, Steelers head coach Mike McCarthy acknowledged that this situation is "a challenge for both Joey and us because we're first-year staff." Porter made it sound like McCarthy understands what the defensive back may not do if he doesn't sign an extension by Sept. 13. 

"I really can’t speak too much to the future, but today I was out there, running with the guys, still trying to get back fully, but we’re going to try to take it day by day for the most part, and that’s the same page me and coach have been on so far," Porter explained, per Michael David Smith of Pro Football Talk. 

In short, the clock is ticking for the Steelers to give Porter millions of reasons to want to play against the Falcons.