Joey Porter Jr. returned to the Pittsburgh Steelers' practice field on Tuesday for the first time since late July, but the fourth-year cornerback gave no assurances he will play in the season opener against the Atlanta Falcons if he and the team cannot agree on a new contract. "I don't know," Porter said when asked whether he would be on the field Sept. 13. "I've got to talk to (the front office) and my agents about that one."

Porter's back, which has kept him out of training camp and the preseason, felt well enough for him to run and perform individual drills, according to multiple reports. Yet the 26-year-old's health appears to be the least of his concerns. Entering the final season of the rookie contract signed after he was selected with the first pick of the second round in 2023, Porter acknowledged the stalled negotiations have weighed on him. "It's been tough, I'm not going to lie, and it's my first go-around with this," he said. "But I mean, it's been also great because I have all my guys with me, all the coaches and players really are on my side."

The uncertainty comes despite strong words of support from the organization. General manager Omar Khan said Monday he wants Porter, the son of former Steelers linebacker and coach Joey Porter , to be in Pittsburgh for the entirety of his career. Head coach Mike McCarthy, however, described the two sides as at an impasse, and Jalen Ramsey, the veteran defensive back who joined the team in 2024, recently said it was time for the Steelers to pay Porter.

Contract Talks Stalled Over Guarantees

Porter has yet to put pen to paper on a new deal, and he told reporters he is staying patient while the matter plays out. "I could hope and think all day, but it's really, it's up to (the front office) and what they want to do with this team," he said. "So all I can do is just show up every day to work." He added that he has been studying defensive coordinator Patrick Graham's approach in the classroom while sidelined.

The sticking point, according to those familiar with the negotiations, is not the average annual value of a potential extension but the structure of guaranteed money. NFL Network's Mike Garafalo reported the Steelers have not yet formally presented Porter with a contract offer, in part because he had not been practicing. The team's deals this offseason with Nick Herbig, Keanu Benton and Darnell Washington all featured limited fully guaranteed money, a pattern that could be influencing the talks. Porter is not believed to be seeking to top the league's highest-paid cornerback, a threshold set by Sauce Gardner's four-year deal averaging $30.1 million per year, but he is expected to push for a higher level of guaranteed money than the Steelers have typically offered.

Porter first addressed the situation publicly during minicamp in June, saying he believes he is one of the best defensive backs in the league and is confident he will be compensated that way. He has backed that claim on the field: he has not allowed a touchdown pass while being the primary defender since his rookie season.

Personal Toll and Team Support

When asked how hard it has been to separate the business from the emotion, Porter replied, "Very." Veteran defensive tackle Cam Heyward, who went through his own contract dispute last season, said he understood the difficulty. His advice to Porter was straightforward: "Don't take it personal, but you will." Heyward added he is not worried about the contract being an issue whenever Porter takes the field.

The Steelers have a long-held policy of not negotiating once the regular season begins, a stance Khan reaffirmed Monday. The precedents, however, offer some hope: star outside linebacker J. Watt agreed to terms less than 72 hours before the opening kickoff in Week 1 of the 2021 season. If no deal is reached before the season begins, Porter would likely face the franchise tag in the offseason. The regular season opens Sept. 7 at Acrisure Stadium.

Porter, who essentially grew up in the Steelers locker room, said his ties to the organization run deep, making the wait harder. But he stressed the injury was the sole reason for his absence during camp, and he does not expect to be rusty, noting he has been doing wind sprints and believes he is in football shape. "A defense is a defense, it's all the same stuff, just different languages," he said.

As the opener approaches, the two sides remain apart, though Porter's return to practice was seen as a significant step. Whether he lines up against Atlanta on Sept. 13 may depend on the conversations he plans to have with the front office and his agents in the coming days.