Joey Porter Jr. takes the field for 1st time not as his father’s son but as a true Steeler
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The walk from the Pittsburgh Steelers locker room to the outdoor practice fields at UPMC Rooney Sports Complex extends not much longer than maybe 40 yards.
And while Joey Porter Jr. has been timed clearing that distance in 4.46 seconds, on Friday it took him considerably longer.
“It took me like 3 minutes to get outside,” Porter said of taking the field for the start of rookie minicamp, “because I was just sitting staring at my locker.”
Porter had made that walk countless times before as a youngster. Being the son of a Steelers assistant coach and former star player when you’re a teenager has its perks, after all.
But Friday was different. Friday, Porter was a drafted and rostered player for the Steelers. And as a second-round pick he was at UPMC Rooney Sports Complex not as an invited onlooker but as one of the team’s star rookies.
That brought him a different level of emotion.
“I did that whole little scene and prayed and just looked out on the whole field,” Porter said of what he did before the 75-minute walk-through started. “I was like, ‘Dang, I used to really be out here as a middle schooler, as a person in high school, and now I am really out here.’ ”
Steelers secondary coach Grady Brown works with DBs at rookie minicamp Friday
Among them are Joey Porter Jr (No. 24) and Cory Trice (27) pic.twitter.com/PxCvpSMe94
— Chris Adamski (@C_AdamskiTrib) May 12, 2023
Porter Jr. joined six other draft picks, six undrafted rookies, five players from last year’s practice squad and 33 others in attendance on a tryout basis.
But with apologies to first-round pick Broderick Jones, arguably none of the other 50 taking part at Steelers rookie minicamp Friday through Sunday are higher profile than Porter. Certainly, none have a bigger name than the son and namesake of the former All-Pro and Super Bowl champion outside linebacker for the Steelers.
“Definitely, I feel at home already,” Porter Jr. said. “Just as like a young kid I used to be here through these doors to work out, now I am a grown man doing the same thing. So it feels good.
“I clicked off my bucket list now that I am a Steeler.”
The 6-foot-2, 193-pound Porter Jr. and fellow draft pick Cory Trice (taken in the seventh round) joined six other defensive backs who did drills under secondary coach Grady Brown. As per NFL rules governing rookie camps, pads weren’t on, tackling wasn’t done and team drills were sporadic.
“Really, just getting all the young guys to work together and come together,” Porter said. “It’s our first practice, so we are just trying to feel each other out and really just learn the playbook.“
No jobs are going to be won this weekend, not even for the highest of draft picks. Time will tell if Porter can have a career anywhere near as successful as his father. But the first seeds to be sown for a long career — or even an impactful rookie season — began Friday for Porter Jr.
“I feel like I can have a big impact,” he said. “I am really just trying to learn from the old guys and kind of get their respect and show them what I can do on and off the field.”
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