The Pittsburgh Steelers recently made headlines by trading Joey Porter Jr. to the Dallas Cowboys. This move came after the Steelers listed Porter as out for their ‘Thursday Night Football’ game against the Cleveland Browns due to non-injury related conditioning and a back issue. Porter participated in a limited capacity during Wednesday’s practice before the trade was finalized.
The deal sent Porter to the Cowboys in exchange for a 2028 second-round pick and a 2027 conditional sixth-round pick. According to a league source, Porter is expected to suit up for the Cowboys’ upcoming game against the Houston Texans, although his exact role in Week 5 remains uncertain as he adjusts to defensive coordinator Christian Parker’s playbook.
The Cowboys are likely to use Porter strategically in a game widely considered critical around the league. The team aims for improved defensive performance in the face of injuries in their secondary. The Cowboys acquired Porter ahead of an important match against the Texans, a team led by quarterback C.J. Stroud and possibly seeing the return of wide receiver Nico Collins.
Despite suggestions of a back injury, many sources have indicated that Porter’s condition is not severe enough to prevent him from playing. He missed significant time during training camp and the initial games of the season amid contract negotiations and the injury label.
For the Texans, a strong start to the season seemed possible before the current 0-3 record set in. Going 0-4 would severely impact their playoff ambitions. Meanwhile, for Dallas, losing could drop them to 1-3, posing a challenge in a competitive NFC East division dominated by the Philadelphia Eagles. The Eagles face the Rams this Sunday following their own 27-7 loss to the Chicago Bears.
Porter, still with his rookie contract concluding in 2027, expressed optimism about playing for the Cowboys this week. “I’m feeling good,” Porter shared with reporters. “I’ll talk to the guys. I mean, I just got here today, so we’re just trying to take things day by day, and if everything looks good, then I should be out there.” The Cowboys are currently not rushing into a contract extension with Porter.
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