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Joey Porter Jr. won't play in Week 2

The Pittsburgh Steelers have officially declared cornerback Joey Porter Jr. unavailable for their upcoming Week 2 contest against the New England Patriots.

Pittsburgh placed Porter on its Friday injury designation list with back, conditioning, and non-injury-related designations, formalizing his absence for Sunday's matchup. The defensive back has been managing a lingering back problem since the offseason, though he managed to participate in practice sessions on a limited basis during the week before departing alongside a trainer during Thursday's workout.

Porter's continued absence leaves Pittsburgh's secondary down a premier defender as the team prepares to face Patriots quarterback Drake Maye. The defensive back's health concerns also arrive amidst ongoing contract discussions.

Additionally, wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. carries an unsettled injury outlook ahead of the New England contest, leaving the Steelers facing the prospect of missing multiple key contributors.