Richard Sherman shares wild theory about why Joey Porter Jr. didn't play for Cowboys vs. Buccaneers

Dallas Cowboys fans were surprised to learn ahead of the club's home game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Thursday night that Dallas cornerback Joey Porter Jr. would not play due to an apparent stomach bug. 

Specifically, NFL Network's Mike Garafolo noted that Porter had "been vomiting with a bad virus" and was "not in a condition to play" Thursday night. 

Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones acquired Porter from the Pittsburgh Steelers after the 26-year-old didn't play over the season's first three weeks due to a supposed back injury that some think was related to his desire for a new contract. During the Amazon Prime Video pregame show for Thursday's contest, former player and current analyst Richard Sherman shared a wild theory about why Porter wasn't available. 

Richard Sherman hints that Joey Porter Jr. made a business decision for Buccaneers game

"The Dallas Cowboys are dealing with a little bit of what the Pittsburgh Steelers were dealing with," Sherman said, per Nate Davis of USA Today. "Hey, is [Porter] gonna play? Is he not? Is he sick? Is he not? Is his back hurt? Is it not? Negotiations, this is a business. ...Maybe if they (Dallas) would have gave [Porter] a new contract, maybe he would have been a little healthier today." 

Sherman was sure to note that he was "speculating" about Porter's condition. 

There is currently no reason to doubt that Porter was truly sick on Thursday night. He made his Cowboys debut in what became the club's 34-30 win over the Houston Texans on Oct. 4, and Jones said as recently as Wednesday that he and Porter's camp had a "great agreement" worked out regarding the player staying on his current deal through the remainder of this season. 

What Jerry Jones said about Joey Porter Jr. missing the Buccaneers game

"He really has got a lot of stomach issues," Jones said about Porter on Dallas sports radio station 105.3 The Fan ahead of Thursday's game, per Joseph Hoyt of the Dallas Morning News. "He wanted to go so bad ... That's disappointing, but we'll have to overcome it."

The Cowboys ultimately couldn't overcome it, as they suffered a stunning 24-16 upset loss that dropped them to 2-3. Jones and Co. will now hope that Porter will be healthy and good to go for Dallas' "Sunday Night Football" game at the Green Bay Packers on Oct. 18.