Mike McCarthy confirms Steelers’ Joey Porter Jr. and Jalen Ramsey missed practice at Saint Vincent College with injuries

Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike McCarthy provided an injury update on two of his defensive backfield anchors, saying he did not see Joey Porter Jr. or Jalen Ramsey practice during the team’s session at Saint Vincent College. With training camp now over in the rearview mirror, McCarthy’s comments point to ongoing recovery for both players as the club turns its attention to the next phase of its preseason work.

According to McCarthy, neither Porter Jr. nor Ramsey was available in practice at Saint Vincent College due to injuries. The Steelers’ coaching staff had already taken roster-management steps to reflect their status, placing both players on the physically unable to perform list on July 28, which began the team’s camp period.

The physically unable to perform list is typically used when a player cannot participate in practices or workouts for medical reasons at the start of camp. While the NFL’s exact activation rules depend on the timing and designation, the practical takeaway is that the Steelers would not plan on using Porter Jr. or Ramsey as full-squad participants immediately, at least not during the Saint Vincent portion of camp referenced by McCarthy.

Porter Jr., a Pittsburgh defensive back, and Ramsey, a veteran cornerback, represent different profiles within the secondary but share a common role: they are expected to handle significant coverage responsibilities. McCarthy’s update suggests the Steelers are managing both players’ availability carefully, rather than forcing participation before they are ready.

McCarthy’s comments also underscore how the Steelers view the early camp stretch as more than just evaluation. Missing practice time for established defensive backs can create a ripple effect for the rest of the unit, since reserves often must take first-team reps and practice-game scenarios to maintain continuity at corner and in related packages.

For Steelers fans, the immediate watch is whether Porter Jr. and Ramsey can progress beyond the limitations that put them on PUP starting July 28. Their ability to rejoin full practice workloads will likely determine how quickly Pittsburgh can stabilize its starting coverage group and how much the coaching staff can rely on its preferred rotation.

If both players remain limited, Pittsburgh could continue to lean on other defensive backs to cover reps that would otherwise be handled by Porter Jr. and Ramsey. Even without projecting any specific outcomes, the Steelers’ next camp and preseason practices will be the clearest indicator of how much defensive cohesion the team can regain and when.

As the calendar shifts from training-camp practices to the later preseason build-up, McCarthy’s update becomes a practical timeline marker. The Steelers, having already designated both players on July 28 and observed no practice work at Saint Vincent College, now need to see whether recovery aligns with the team’s preparation window for games that follow camp.