Joey Porter Jr, rest of Steelers’ renowned rookie class ready to make NFL debuts
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It was just two years ago the Pittsburgh Steelers started five rookies during their season opener, the most they’d deployed for a season’s first game in three decades.
This year, depending on the packages the offense and defense open up with, there might not be any rookies in the starting lineup when the Steelers open the season Sunday at Acrisure Stadium. But that doesn’t mean that a handful won’t make an impact in the game against the San Francisco 49ers.
The six draft picks who made the team all figure to be in uniform, and while the pair of offensive lineman (first-rounder Broderick Jones and seventh-rounder Spencer Anderson) might not play on offense barring injury, the others all could play significant roles in their NFL debuts.
“We’re counting on them to contribute,” defensive coordinator Teryl Austin said of the three rostered rookies on defense.
No. 32 overall pick Joey Porter Jr. is considered one of the Steelers best two or three outside cornerbacks. Fellow second-rounder Keeanu Benton will be part of the rotation on the defensive line. Fourth-round outside linebacker Nick Herbig was one of the Steelers’ biggest stars of the preseason, and he will play plenty of snaps spelling starters at his position, T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith.
The rookie on offense expected to play most is tight end Darnell Washington, the Steelers’ third-round pick.
“He’s a big guy that we know can block and can make some plays in the passing game,” offensive coordinator Matt Canada said. “I don’t know if we can define his role just yet.
“We’re excited about it. A guy that’s continued to ascend since the day he got here. I think he’s done things that we saw on tape. He’s certainly been a guy whose arrows continue to point up.”
Joey Porter Jr on how far he’s come over his 4 months as a professional pic.twitter.com/1JwPqJkRt1
— Chris Adamski (@C_AdamskiTrib) September 8, 2023
For the 2021 opener at the Buffalo Bills, four rookies started on offense: running back Najee Harris, tight end Pat Freiermuth, left tackle Dan Moore Jr. and center Kendrick Green. Though Green has been traded, the other three remain as starters.
Tre Norwood started the Sept. 12, 2021, game in Buffalo. A seventh-round pick that year, Norwood was the slot/nickel defensive back that day.
Sunday, Porter’s role will be as an outside corner and fall somewhere on the spectrum from an every-down player to one just used in subpackages. Either way, Porter vows he’s ready.
“I feel like it came a long way (since being drafted),” Porter said Friday. “Coming out of college, you feel like you know everything — but you really don’t until you get out there with the other guy. So, the learning curve and everything, it’s been great for me. I have been picking up on everything I have needed to do, so now I am steady and just jeep working.
“Now is finally time when these games mean something, so to be able to go out there (Sunday) is everything.”
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