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The Dallas Cowboys may be without their standout cornerback Joey Porter Jr. for a second consecutive game as he continues to recover from an ankle/foot injury leading up to the Week 10 matchup against the San Francisco 49ers.
Porter Jr. was listed as a non-participant (DNP) on Thursday's injury report after also sitting out last week's victory over the Indianapolis Colts. Following practice, he spoke with reporters to address the question on every Cowboys fan's mind: is his absence related to his contract?
Porter Jr. Dismisses Contract Rumors
Porter Jr. made it clear that he is not concerned with fans' speculation about his absence, emphasizing that his focus is on getting healthy and returning to the field as soon as possible.
"I don't know where that narrative came from," Porter Jr. said, per Joseph Hoyt of The Dallas Morning News. "I mean, I get it, it's the internet, but I don't really pay no attention to that or do I really care. My goal is to win games and play football."
However, the narrative may stem from his preseason absence with the Pittsburgh Steelers due to a back issue—an injury that seemed to heal quickly once he was traded to Dallas. This is not to suggest his current injury is not legitimate; it certainly is. But it's easy to see why fans might connect the dots.
When Did the Injury Occur?
It turns out Porter Jr. has been dealing with this injury longer than most Cowboys fans realize. He told NFL insider Jane Slater that he originally injured his foot during his Cowboys debut against the Houston Texans in Week 4 and has been playing through it ever since.
"Tweaked it, Houston game, and I just kept playing on it," Porter Jr. told Slater. "My 70% looks good. You know, that's what I think. So it just got worse, as I kept playing on."
He ended up missing Week 5's loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers due to illness and returned the following week against the Green Bay Packers. Despite Dallas suffering another primetime loss, Porter Jr. played arguably his best game of the season at Lambeau Field, finishing with three solo tackles and two pass breakups.
Based on his latest injury designation, it appears Porter Jr. will be watching from the sidelines as Dallas looks to upset San Francisco on Sunday. And regardless of his comments, Cowboys fans will continue to have their concerns that his absence is tied to a potential contract extension until he returns to action.