Steelers' Joey Porter Jr. on playing without deal: 'I don't know' - ESPN

PITTSBURGH — Speaking for the first time amid contentious contract negotiations, Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Joey Porter Jr. was noncommittal when asked if he would play without a contract extension.

«I don't know,» he said with a shrug. «I got to talk to the guys upstairs and my agents about that.»

Minutes earlier, when asked if he would play if healthy, Porter gave an affirmative answer before walking it back.

«Yeah, for sure,» he said, then pausing and adding, «maybe.»

Porter, entering the final year of his rookie contract, practiced Tuesday for the first time since being activated off the physically unable to perform list at Sunday's roster cutdown deadline. Porter said his back injury, which he aggravated during mobility workouts on the first day of training camp, was the «whole reason» he was sidelined during training camp and the preseason.

Coach Mike McCarthy said before Tuesday's practice that Porter would «ramp up» in his participation, and the cornerback wouldn't speculate if he would be ready for the Week 1 game against the Atlanta Falcons.

«Really can't speak too much about the future,» Porter said. «But today I was out there today running with the guys, still trying to get back fully, but we're going to take it day by day for the most part.»

«And that's the same page me and Coach have been on so far.» Porter also said he didn't know what was holding up negotiations, and he was neutral when asked if he thought a deal would get done.

«I mean, I could hope and think all day,» Porter said. «But it's really, it's up to those guys upstairs, and what they want to do with this team. So all I could do is just show up every day to work and be prepared.»

Porter said he has leaned on his dad and former Steelers