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Jan 27, 2026; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike McCarthy looks on at a press conference announcing him as the new Pittsburgh Steelers head coach at PNC Champions Club at Acrisure Stadium.. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images
Now that NFL teams have released their 53-man rosters, it's a fun time to look at who made the cut and the biggest moves, in general, ahead of the roster being finalized.
For the Pittsburgh Steelers, their biggest move wasn't a trade or cut, it was activating a player off PUP.
The team activated cornerback Joey Porter Jr. off PUP, so he'll be able to play the first four games of the season, if he's ready.
Steelers make interesting move with Joey Porter Jr.
On Monday, ESPN unleashed its list of the biggest roster moves for each NFL team. For the Steelers, it's activating Porter. It's a complicated situation, really.
"Porter was placed on the list after aggravating a back injury during a mobility workout on the first day of training camp, but coach Mike McCarthy recently referred to him as dealing with a 'business situation' as the 2023 second-round pick and the team worked through a stalemate in extension talks," Brooke Pryor of ESPN states in the piece.
Pryor adds, "Though activating Porter off PUP doesn't signal an impending extension, or that Porter will return to practice, he now has the option to return to the field ahead of the season."
So, as Pryor points out, if the Steelers want to lock in a deal with Porter, they'll have two weeks to do it, since the Steelers don't negotiate deals during the season. It's a bit of a stick situation, and time will tell if it happens, but it's good news that he's off PUP.
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