Cornerback Joey Porter Jr. is set to make his Dallas Cowboys debut against the Houston Texans. He steps onto the field just days after a trade from the Pittsburgh Steelers, according to ESPN NFL reporter Jeremy Fowler. Sources indicate Porter is expected to play approximately 30 snaps, depending on how the game unfolds.
Porter Missed Games During Contract Holdout
Porter missed the first three games of the season due to a reported back injury.
According to The Steelers Wire, the cornerback missed the majority of training camp and preseason practices while managing a contract holdout with the Steelers front office. The team placed Porter on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list in late July due to back pain. Although Pittsburgh activated him from the list in late August, the 26-year-old cornerback refused to play without a new contract extension.
The September 30 Blockbuster Trade
On September 30, the stalemate ended.
The Steelers traded Porter to the Dallas Cowboys in exchange for a second-round draft pick in 2028 and a conditional sixth-round pick in 2027, as reported by DAZN.
Three Seasons in Pittsburgh
Before the trade, Porter spent three seasons in Pittsburgh.
The franchise selected him with the 32nd overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. During his tenure with the Steelers, he recorded 165 combined tackles, one sack, and three interceptions across his appearances, which included missing time in 2025 due to a minor hamstring injury.
Porter Debuts Against Houston Texans on DAZN
Porter will wear a Cowboys uniform for the first time during the team’s road matchup against the Houston Texans, broadcast live on DAZN.
Fans can access every game of the 2026 NFL season through a subscription to the NFL Game Pass on DAZN, which features NFL RedZone, NFL Network, Game in 40, Sunday in 60, and Multiview.
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