Joey Porter Jr. leaves practice early with trainer in tow

UPDATE: Joey Porter, Junior was seen leaving #Steelers practice today with a trainer during the media open window period

PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – Here is what we can tell you about Joey Porter, Junior, he is no longer suffering from a back injury. In the final opportunity to speak with Steelers head coach Mike McCarthy before the game in New England on Thursday morning, here is what else he said about his starting corner potentially returning.

It doesn’t clear a lot of the air, but a little more information.

McCarthy was happy with Porter, Junior’s work in practice on Wednesday.

“I thought Joey had a good day (Wednesday),” McCarthy said. “He did everything that he was scheduled to do, hopefully we can make some progress (Thursday).”

How much longer of this ramp up to play before Porter, Junior is in a game?

“Every situation for every player in my career has been different,” McCarthy said. “We’ll see how he goes, but I was very pleased with the work Joey was able to get done yesterday.”

The Steelers head coach wouldn’t say if he would rotate Porter, Junior with Asante Samuel, Junior as a way to work Porter, Junior up to speed. He would consider that giving away game plan secrets.

The explanation of why Porter, Junior was first listed as a back injury and now conditioning is more on an unidentified staffer, per McCarthy.

“Frankly that’s just kind of where the person in charge of designating filed,” McCarthy said of someone on staff who fills out the injury reports. “We have a plan for him. He hit the plan (Wednesday), hopefully he can do more (Thursday).”