McCarthy stays vague as Steelers sit Joey Porter Jr. amid back rehab, contract limbo

Mike McCarthy, the Pittsburgh Steelers coach, is reluctant to discuss Joey Porter Jr.'s back injury and his contract situation. The Steelers had a successful game against Atlanta, despite Porter's uncertain status and ongoing contract negotiations. Porter has been inactive for the past two games due to his recovery from a back injury that sidelined him during training camp.

McCarthy remains vague about Porter's return, hoping he'll be ready by the time the team returns to practice on Wednesday. Despite Porter's teammates believing he's ready to earn a long-term contract, McCarthy is unsure how the uncertainty might affect Porter during his return. The Steelers have $67 million in cap space tied up in other players, making it crucial for them to keep Porter healthy and productive.