Steelers' practice report: Joey Porter Jr. ramps up participation, optimistic about playing vs. Bills

An ankle injury that prevented rookie cornerback Joey Porter Jr from playing in the Pittsburgh Steelers’ preseason opener has healed enough that he took part in some 11-on-11 drills Tuesday in practice at Saint Vincent College.

The question is whether Porter will recover completely in time to suit up for the Steelers’ preseason game Saturday against the Buffalo Bills at Acrisure Stadium.

Porter is optimistic.

“It’s important for me,” he said. “I’m trying to get out there as a young guy to see how it is in the NFL. (Even if it’s) preseason, it doesn’t matter. Hopefully, it goes that way. I don’t know yet, but we’ll see.”

Porter described his practice participation as limited. It was more work than he did Sunday when the Steelers resumed workouts following the opener Friday night at Tampa Bay.

Porter watched from the sidelines while fellow draft picks Broderick Jones, Keeanu Benton, Darnell Washington, Nick Herbig and Spencer Anderson contributed to the 27-17 victory.

“It was frustrating because I wanted to be out there with the guys I’ve been working with for a minute,” Porter said. “But it’s all for a reason. Coach and I had the talk, and it was a great decision.”

If healthy, Porter could be in line to start at cornerback, a move that would bump veteran Patrick Peterson to the slot position.

“I always come out here working to be the best guy, working to be CB1,” he said. “That is up to coach, and if he feels like I’m ready, I’m going to keep going outside and showing that I am.”

The Steelers conclude the training camp portion of the preseason on Thursday, and Porter said he’ll remember his three weeks on campus as a growth period in his development.

“There were some bumps and bruises,” he said. “At the end of the day, I’ll take them as wins.”

Porter’s biggest realization?

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“I can catch – for real,” he said with a laugh. “I’ve got nice hands. I always knew that, but I stamped myself this camp with that.”

In four seasons at Penn State, Porter had one career interception, which might have been a reason he wasn’t taken until the first pick of the second round. Porter made a handful of interceptions in practice prior to his ankle injury.

“Really, just to shut everybody else up – the outsiders that didn’t think I could catch,” Porter said. “I had to show them I could. It’s something I’ve worked on every day before and after practice, so I knew it was something that was going to happen.”

Coach Mike Tomlin said defensive tackle Larry Ogunjobi, who has missed several practices with a foot injury, is “moving closer” to returning. Strong safety Keanu Neal remains limited because of an undisclosed injury. Guard/center Nate Herbig missed practice with a shoulder injury. Outside linebacker Markus Golden was given a veteran day off.