Cowboys Star CB Trending in Wrong Direction for Week 9

Dallas Cowboys' star cornerback Joey Porter Jr. has been struggling with an ankle injury since Week 6, and recent practice participation suggests his condition may worsen ahead of their Week 9 game against the Indianapolis Colts. According to The Athletic's Jon Machota, the Cowboys have downgraded Porter to a limited participant in Thursday's practice, raising concerns about his availability for Sunday's matchup.

The trade that brought Porter to the Cowboys in September involved a 2028 second-round pick and a conditional 2027 sixth-round pick in exchange for the Pittsburgh Steelers. Porter's playtime has been inconsistent, with him contributing less than 50% of defensive snaps in two of his three appearances. He logged 36 snaps against the Green Bay Packers, 51 against the Philadelphia Eagles, and 36 against the Arizona Cardinals.

If Porter is sidelined further, the Cowboys will need to rely on DaRon Bland, Cobie Durant, Ameer Speed, and Shavon Revel Jr. to cover for his absence. Porter entered the NFL as the 32nd pick in the 2023 draft and has made a strong impact for the Steelers, recording 165 tackles, a sack, 31 pass deflections, and three interceptions in his first three seasons.

After playing college football at Penn State from 2019 to 2022, he amassed 115 tackles, one sack, one forced fumble, 17 pass deflections, and an interception during his time with the college team.