Yes, Joey Porter Jr. has been heavily penalized in a few games this season, but let’s put things into perspective. Some of the NFL’s top cornerbacks—names like Sauce Gardner, Patrick Surtain II, and Marlon Humphrey—also rank among the most heavily penalized players at their position. It comes with the territory of playing one of the most demanding roles in football.

Elite cornerbacks arguably have the toughest job on defense: shutting down the opposing team’s top receiver, often in one-on-one situations. While not all teams ask their top cornerback to shadow the opposition’s No. 1 receiver, the Pittsburgh Steelers do—and Joey Porter Jr. not only embraces the challenge, asks for it and thrives in it.

Consider this when evaluating Porter Jr.’s performance: against the Steelers, opposing No. 1 receivers are averaging just around 4 catches, 61 yards, and fewer than 0.25 touchdowns per game. Strikingly, star receivers have scored only three touchdowns against the Steelers this season—none of which were given up by Porter Jr.

Now, these stats doesn’t represent Porter Jr.’s efforts alone—there are times when he isn’t covering the opposing team’s No. 1 receiver. However, for the majority of snaps, he is. If our defense can hold elite receivers to those kinds of numbers and JPJ is the primary defender, I can accept a few flags along the way.

Most of Porter’s penalties have occurred in just three of the Steelers’ 12 games this season. That inconsistency suggests the high-penalty issue isn’t chronic; it’s situational. Much of it may depend on the officiating crew and how they choose to call the game. Some crews allow a more physical style of play between receivers and cornerbacks, while others are quick to throw flags. Additionally, the matchup often dictates how Porter is forced to play.

Take the most recent game against the Cincinnati Bengals. Yes, it was a tough outing for Porter in terms of penalties. But his assignment? Match up with Tee Higgins, a physically imposing receiver who uses his size to dominate. Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin addressed this dynamic in his weekly press conference, stating, “When we play Shaq, we’re going to use our fouls.” Tomlin also said, “Tee is a goon. He is. You can’t let him beat you up.” When facing big, physical receivers, the Steelers’ defense has to bring physicality to the table and cannot be bullied—and that approach naturally comes with the risk of penalties.

While Tomlin has expressed confidence in Porter Jr., he also acknowledged the need for him to refine his technique and fundamentals, something we all can agree on. This isn’t a surprise. Scouts flagged these areas for improvement during the pre-draft process. The good news? These issues are correctable. Porter is a young player still in his first full season as a starter, and he’s learning. As the season progresses—and throughout his career—I expect to see significant growth and improvement.

Joey Porter Jr. has already proven he belongs in the NFL, consistently holding his own against some of the league’s best receivers. Penalties are a small price to pay for the overall success he’s bringing to the Steelers’ defense. As Porter continues to fine-tune his game and adapt to the league, I believe the penalties will diminish—but the lockdown coverage will remain.

I’m not worried about JPJ, and I don’t think you should be either. He’s doing exactly what the Steelers drafted him to do: make life miserable for the NFL’s best receivers.

Continue to check out The Steel Curtain Network for Steelers news and updates.

Stay Blessed and Stay Positive… “Here We Go”