Steelers notes: Joey Porter Jr. ‘definitely… back for sure’ for Sunday’s game vs. Browns

While Joey Porter Jr. began his comments with media dutifully deferring to his head coach, he quickly made his own declaration about his health and status for the upcoming game.

“Definitely,” the Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback said of his impending return to game action Sunday. “Yeah, I’m back for sure.”

He hasn’t played in a game for a month (hamstring). But here is Steelers CB Joey Porter Jr at practice Monday pic.twitter.com/07Ejye94zM

— Chris Adamski (@C_AdamskiTrib) October 6, 2025

The Steelers return from an idle week to host the Cleveland Browns on Sunday.

Porter has not played since suffering a hamstring injury early during the second half of the Sept. 7 season opener at the New York Jets. While he returned to practice two weeks ago in advance of the Steelers’ most recent game – Sept. 28 in Dublin – Porter never was more than a limited participant nor a serious consideration to play against the Minnesota Vikings.

“I wanted to get back before the bye week just to get my little groove in,” Porter said Monday after the Steelers gathered after their weekend off. “But it was for the greater good. I sat, got some more time, so yeah, we’re ready now.

“(Coach Mike Tomlin) had a timeline in mind, and he’s the head coach, so he’s got that right. So whatever he (decides), I’m with it.”

Porter said it was “great to be back.” Videos taken during the early portion of Monday’s practice at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex that were open to media photography indicated Porter was a significant participant at the “bonus” post-bye practice.

Joey Porter Jr on the Steelers secondary overcoming so many injuries this season pic.twitter.com/lh80RSasel

— Chris Adamski (@C_AdamskiTrib) October 6, 2025

Austin update

Receiver Calvin Austin III suffered a shoulder injury during the second play of the fourth quarter of the win against the Vikings.

“I just got tackled,” he said. “Just a kind of just a normal football play.”

The incident brought to a halt a promising start to the season for Austin, who had a touchdown catch in two of the Steelers’ first three games and had firmly established himself as the team’s legitimate No. 2 wide receiver.

Steelers WR Calvin Austin III said suffering an injury in Dublin did not create any different treatment than a game stateside pic.twitter.com/2e6IJdEMDR

— Chris Adamski (@C_AdamskiTrib) October 6, 2025

“It’s frustrating,” Austin said Monday, “but at the end of the day I know God has a plan for me. And I’ve got good teammates and staff here. So I’m just taking it one day at a time. And I know this is going to be something that for me in the future is going to just build just more… the ability to just get past adversity, and this is one of those moments.”

Austin said he had “no clue” if the team might place him on injured reserve or offer any potential timeline on when he could return to game action.

No IR moves

Neither Will Howard or Donte Kent practiced Monday, an indication that neither will be coming off of the injured reserve list any time soon. The pair of rookie late-round draft picks were put on IR at the end of the preseason in conjunction with setting the season-opening 53-man active roster.

Per IR rules that stipulate a minimum of four games missed, Howard and Kent are now eligible to return to practice which would open up a 21-day window during which they can practice but by the end of which must be added to the active roster or are lost for the season.

Each, theoretically, could fill a role. The Steelers currently have only two quarterbacks on their active roster. Howard is a quarterback drafted in the sixth round. Since the season began, QB3 Skylar Thompson has gone on to IR.

A slot cornerback, Kent was taken in Round 7 in large part because of his punt-return skills. Austin has been the Steelers’ punt returner for the past three seasons.

Safety signed

The Steelers signed Jack Henderson to their practice squad Monday. An undrafted rookie from Minnesota, Henderson spent all of summer with the Carolina Panthers before being released as part of their final cuts.

The 6-foot-2, 215-pound Henderson started for two seasons at Minnesota after a transfer from Southeastern Louisiana.