Steelers activate Joey Porter Jr. from PUP, GM Omar Khan indicates long-term hope

The Steelers took a practical step toward the start of the regular season by activating cornerback Joey Porter Jr. from the physically unable to perform list. The move, reported by Yahoo Sports, clears the way for Porter to practice with the team and to be available for Week 1. It also highlights the kind of roster timing that often matters as teams balance health management with early-season readiness.

Pittsburgh’s decision came after a summer in which Porter had been seeking a contract extension. Yahoo Sports’ report framed the activation as occurring even though the extension he wanted was not yet in place. That matters because contract negotiations and availability can become intertwined during training camp and the weeks immediately before kickoffs, especially for players whose roles are designed to be central from day one.

Steelers general manager Omar Khan addressed the situation Monday, according to the Yahoo Sports report, saying the team hopes Porter “finishes his career here.” Khan’s comments place the emphasis on continuity rather than a short-term exit. At the same time, the report notes there was no clear indication that an agreement was imminent, meaning the activation does not, by itself, resolve the broader business question of what a long-term deal ultimately looks like.

For the Steelers, Porter’s activation is more than symbolism. A starting cornerback prospect typically changes how a defense operates in both man and zone looks, particularly in the first weeks when teams are still sharpening communication and timing after the preseason. With Porter eligible to practice, Pittsburgh can evaluate its defensive combinations with him in the mix rather than continuing to build around a temporarily limited personnel set.

The physically unable to perform list has its own roster logic, and activating a player is often the team’s report that the player has progressed enough to return to football activities. In Porter’s case, the Yahoo Sports report links the activation directly to the practical question of whether he could play in the opener, and it suggests the Steelers planned for his return while the contract discussion continued in parallel.

Negotiations that stretch into the final phases of camp sometimes leave teams with a narrow window for risk management. If an agreement is still far away, activating a player can still preserve on-field options without requiring the team to treat the offseason contract stance as settled. That dynamic is what makes the coming days important to watch: whether the Steelers and Porter reach the kind of resolution Khan publicly described as the desired end state.

What to watch next is whether the team continues to keep Porter involved at full speed in practice, and whether contract talks begin to show concrete movement. Even if the extension is not immediately resolved, the activation itself sets a baseline: Porter can contribute in Week 1 if the Steelers choose to use him, and the Steelers can continue shaping their defensive plans around a player they clearly want to retain long term.