Slowly being eased into a role, rookie CB Joey Porter Jr. impresses veteran Steelers teammates

Joey Porter Sr. couldn’t contain his excitement. In the postgame locker room late last Monday, Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin noted that two players at Porter’s former position had scored touchdowns that night.

“When both of them score,” Porter Sr. said of the Steelers’ starting outside linebackers, “how can you lose that way?”

But for all the pride Porter takes in his place among the legacy of great Steelers edge defenders, that wasn’t the primary reason he was beaming in the aftermath of the 26-22 win against the Cleveland Browns.

Porter was a proud father, too. His son had made the play that sealed victory for the Steelers.

Joey Porter Jr. in coverage on the game-winning stop! #CLEvsPIT pic.twitter.com/yPY5EFISDP

— NFL (@NFL) September 19, 2023

“It’s great, just to have him (present),” Joey Porter Jr. said later in the week, “And he had some surprise people I didn’t think would be at the game. It was my first elementary football coach there. So just to have him in there with me, it was great, a great time.”

Both Porters could celebrate after the younger one’s first win as a professional. A cornerback and the No. 32 overall pick out of Penn State, the North Allegheny alumnus did not allow a completion on either of the throws that went in the direction of the Browns receiver he was covering.

Porter was credited with a pass break-up when he blanketed Elijah Moore on a throw deep in Steelers territory during Cleveland’s first third-and-long of the day 6 minutes into the game. And, with 1 minute, 5 seconds to play and the Browns facing a third-and-9 from the Steelers 49, Porter ran and jostled with Donovan Peoples-Jones down the right sideline to help induce an incompletion that gave the Steelers the ball with the ability to kneel out the clock.

Excellent PBU by Joey Porter Jr.

He continues to make plays under the lights. pic.twitter.com/VO4yhtbAq2

— Alex Rocco (@AlexRocco13_) September 19, 2023

“I feel like I did OK,” Porter said after a game in which he played when the Steelers went to their dime package during obvious Cleveland passing situations. “At the end of the day (on the Moore play), I could have ended up with (an interception), and I could have played the last play a little better if we want to be really technical about it. But overall I feel like I did a really good job going in there and making opportunities on the plays I had.”

After playing just seven defensive snaps in his NFL debut during a season-opening loss to the San Francisco 49ers, Porter played 14 defensive snaps (plus six on special teams) in Week 2. Over that limited sample size, Porter had the best overall grade of any Steelers defensive back in the subjective evaluation by Pro Football Focus.

Porter Sr.’s former teammate, Steelers veteran cornerback Patrick Peterson, has taken a father-like pride in fostering Porter Jr.’s development. The 23-year-old has impressed his veteran teammates with his smarts and maturity.

“Just being where he’s supposed to be, understanding the task at hand and when he’s given a responsibility,” Peterson said. “He comes to work each and every day learning from guys, film study early in the morning. He just wants to be in the best position possible.

“Because if you look at it when Joey does come in the game, it’s a money (high-leverage) down, so we don’t have no time for mistakes. And nine times out of 10 they are coming probably at the youngest guy in the secondary, and he’s been doing a great job of holding up and I am just so, so happy for him with the early success he’s having to continue to build on it.”

Hey, Steelers Nation, get the latest news about the Pittsburgh Steelers here.