PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – There are parts of Joey Porter, Junior that remind you that he is his father’s son. The confidence is something that was instilled a him at an early age and facing one of the best receivers in the game Sunday, it’s showing through before the Steelers play at Cincinnati.
Porter confirmed he’s likely to shadow Bengals All-Pro receiver Ja’Marr Chase. He said he’s ready.
“I feel like he’s an overall athlete,” Porter, Junior said Friday. “He’s a good player. He’s been doing it in the league for a long time. I’m excited for this matchup. I feel like I’m prepared for it.”
“Let’s do it.”
He’s taken on challenges like DeAndre Hopkins and Amari Cooper, and while he’s had some hiccups, his evaluation numbers steadily have risen, especially in tackling, but also with his coverage. His coverage skills grade has climbed as his snap total has. According to Pro Football Focus he’s now a top 20 corner in the NFL in pass coverage.
The rookie, second-year pick credited his studying of tendencies. He said the coaches have put him in a position to see what the opponents like to do. Figure out what their ‘go-to thing’ is and capitalize. He feels like that plan has worked and he intends to stick with it.
Studying the tendencies of a quarterback making his first NFL start is difficult. He’s not really sure what to expect from Bengals fill-in Jake Browning, especially after he has had a week of preparation. He said he’s studying tape, but the big thing for him, and the defense, is making sure they communicate. They could see anything, but if they are on their game, he feels like that’s the battle.
There is a lot of tape on Chase. The third-year receiver was the fifth overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft and caught 81 passes for 1,455 yards and 13 touchdowns as a rookie. In only 12 games the following season, 1,046 yards on 87 receptions (nine touchdowns) and 71 catches this season for 833 yards and six touchdowns. Against the Steelers, 17 receptions for 233 yards and three scores. It’s Porter’s first time against him.
“These are situations I always dreamed of,” Porter, Junior said. “I watched as a kid, DB’s having one-on-one matchups with the top guys. Now it’s my turn. If I get that chance with any top receiver, I’m going to take it.”
“I take a lot of pride in that. That’s what I wanted coming in the building. They are giving me the tools to do that. They are trusting me. It’s time to put on.”
Welcome to the Jungle
Porter attended several games his father played against Cincinnati, but all were in Pittsburgh. This will be is first game at Paul Brown Stadium, the place where his father gloated about a playoff win as a player after Chad Johnson had said the Steelers were yesterday’s news, like a black-and-white TV. His father also impacted the 2015 playoff game, drawing a penalty as a Steelers assistant coach against PacMan Jones. He said it seems like yesterday when that happened.
“Those games are legendary, there are a lot of history between the two teams,” Porter, Junior said. “This is exciting for anybody who watched these two.”