Joey Porter Jr. was downgraded to questionable for Sunday’s Cowboys-Packers game after limited participation in Friday’s practice due to an ankle injury, raising fresh doubts about his availability. The cornerback had been a full participant in Thursday’s session and was expected to play, making the sudden change notable just days before the Week 6 matchup.
Porter’s status has drawn attention because of his recent pattern of absences. After missing Dallas’s Week 5 loss to the Buccaneers due to illness, he has only appeared in one game since being traded from the Pittsburgh Steelers. That appearance came in Week 4 against the Houston Texans, where he played nearly half of the defensive snaps in his Dallas debut, according to Cowboys Wire.
The limited action and recent injury report led some fans, particularly from his former Steelers team, to question Porter’s intentions. On social media, a user named @yinzer_g suggested that Porter has been manipulating injury designations to accrue enough time on the injured or inactive lists to qualify for an accrued NFL season, which affects free agency status. The post claimed Porter “faked a back injury, an illness and now an ankle injury” to reach unrestricted free agent eligibility at the end of the year.
Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones addressed those concerns during an interview on Dallas’s 105.3 The Fan. He was asked if the team worried about Porter repeating holdout behavior similar to what some Steelers fans allege. Jones responded, “Oh, absolutely. I think he’s all in. He wants to be out there. He was sick, he couldn’t play last week with the flu. But he obviously played in our first game and I think he’s fired up about what he can do to help us win against the Packers.”
Jones’s comments came before the final injury report was released, which downgraded Porter to questionable after limited practice participation on Friday. 105.3 The Fan’s Gavin Dawson noted the timing of Jones’s statement, expressing uncertainty about Porter’s status following the injury update.
Porter’s situation has added another layer to the Cowboys’ challenging season. Dallas entered Week 6 with a 2-3 record and a defense ranked 30th in the NFL in total yards allowed. The cornerback’s availability could influence the team’s efforts to improve defensively against Green Bay’s offense.
The Cowboys traded for Porter earlier this season with the expectation he would contribute immediately, but his inconsistent availability has limited his impact. After publicly stating he was “feeling better” following the trade, Porter’s conditioning and integration into the Dallas defense have been gradual. His absence last week due to illness and now injury leaves his status uncertain heading into a crucial divisional game.
Porter has the chance to dispel doubts by playing on Sunday, but if he sits out, skepticism from fans and media will likely grow. For now, the Cowboys await his decision as they prepare to face the Packers.
According to Yahoo Sports.
