Steelers' Joey Porter Jr. gives updates on reported trade request, availability for Bengals game

A previous report claimed that Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Joey Porter Jr. "requested a trade" after he failed to land a desired contract extension before the start of the ongoing regular season.

While speaking with reporters on Thursday, he suggested that story was inaccurate. 

Joey Porter Jr. says he didn't request a trade

"No, I didn't," Porter said in response to a question about the alleged trade request, per Alex Kozora of Steelers Depot. "Did somebody say that? No, I think it would hit the media if I did that." 

Porter didn't play over the season's first two weeks due to reasons related to a supposed back injury that flared up at the start of training camp. As shared by Joe Clark of Steelers Depot, Porter hinted that "both" his back and his conditioning could keep him from playing when the 1-1 Steelers host the 2-0 Cincinnati Bengals this coming Sunday. 

"My back has its moments where it'll flare up here and there, and just trying to get my conditioning down with me being out there as much as possible," Porter explained. 

While Porter said he "definitely" sees himself playing at some point this season, he didn't commit to taking the field against the Bengals.

"I don't know," Porter said about his availability for Week 3. "We still got two more days to practice, so we can figure that out soon." 

Joey Porter Jr. reacts to not getting deal done before Steelers' deadline

The Steelers famously refuse to negotiate with players after a regular season gets underway, and they are sticking with that policy regarding Porter's status. Porter's existing contract expires after the 2026 campaign, and he has been the subject of numerous trade rumors since the summer months. 

"It didn’t get done," Porter said about not signing a deal before Pittsburgh's season opener, per Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. "It didn’t happen. That’s really just old news for me now. Just mainly just focused on what I’ve got ahead of me, and just really just getting back to 100 percent."

It remains to be seen if Porter will be 100 percent committed to playing for the Steelers against a Bengals team that features star wide receivers Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins. As of Thursday afternoon, DraftKings Sportsbook had Pittsburgh as a 3.5-point home underdog against Cincinnati.