Steelers’ Joey Porter Jr. will not play in home opener vs. Seahawks; Nick Herbig to return

For only the second time over his three-year pro career, Joey Porter Jr. will miss a game for the Pittsburgh Steelers.

The starting cornerback has been ruled out for Sunday’s home opener against the Seattle Seahawks. Per the status report, Porter did not practice in any capacity all week after he missed most of the second half of Sunday’s win at the New York Jets because of a hamstring injury.

In Porter’s stead, veteran cornerback Brandin Echols figures to play a more prominent role in the defense. Also ruled out previously from the secondary is starting strong safety DeShon Elliott, who suffered a knee injury against the Jets.

The Steelers signed veteran Jabrill Peppers this week to replace Elliott on the game day roster, and in their varied and versatile secondary the domino effect could result in Jalen Ramsey playing fulltime as an outside cornerback while Juan Thornhill, Chuck Clark and Peppers handle the traditional safety responsibilities.

The only game Porter had missed for the Steelers since getting drafted in the second round of the 2023 draft was the Christmas Day meeting with the Kansas City Chiefs last season. That game was played four days after Porter suffered a knee injury during a game at Baltimore.

Herbig returns

After missing the season opener because of a hamstring ailment suffered during the preseason, No. 3 outside linebacker Nick Herbig has been cleared to make his season debut Sunday.

After practicing fully Thursday and Friday, Herbig was given the green light to face Seattle via the status report released Friday.

“I feel good,” Herbig said after practice. “I’m ready to go.”

Behind starters T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith, the Steelers finished the game against the Jets with only rookie Jack Sawyer as a backup outside linebacker. Veteran Malik Harrison — who played both inside and outside linebacker — suffered a knee injury during the game and was placed on injured reserve.

“It’ll be really nice to have him back,” Watt said of Herbig, “just to be able to take a little bit more plays off, if I can, here or there, and be able to make more impact. To be able to have Herb out there, I think more than anything, it’s just confidence. Just being able to have, in his third year now, those two years under his belt, have a good offseason training, have a good camp, to be out there and just let it loose on Sunday.”

Highsmith a late add

Highsmith was a late, surprise addition to the injury report because of an ankle injury that did not crop up until Friday’s practice. Highsmith, though, made it through practice — albeit in a limited capacity — and does not carry any status designation headed into the weekend.

It had been announced previously that rookie Derrick Harmon would remain out for Sunday against the Seahawks because of a knee injury suffered late in the preseason.