Cowboys' key in-season acquisition Joey Porter Jr. insists two-week absence is unrelated to contract future

Joey Porter Jr. has appeared in four games since the Dallas Cowboys acquired him in a late-September trade.

But the cornerback has missed the majority of the past two weeks, prompting speculation that his absence was related to his contract situation rather than an ankle injury. Porter made clear he is focused on playing, not securing his next contract, and dismissed any suggestion otherwise as noise.

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"I don't even know where that narrative come from," Porter said. "I get it. It's the internet, but I really don't pay no attention to that or really care for that. My goal is to win games and play football, and that's what I want to do. So if there's any chance I could get on the field, I'm going to get on the field and do what I do best."

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Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Joey Porter Jr. warms up before an NFL game against the Cincinnati Bengals in Pittsburgh on Sunday, Sept. 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Porter’s Cowboys debut against the Houston Texans on Oct. 4 was cut short by an apparent ankle injury. He left the following week’s game against the Arizona Cardinals early after appearing to aggravate the injury. Porter was inactive the next week when Dallas traveled to Indianapolis to face the Colts.

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Porter did not practice Thursday, marking the second day in a row he was not a full participant. He was seen working with resistance bands during at least part of practice.

Porter could take part in more work Friday as he works toward possibly playing Sunday against the San Francisco 49ers. The Cowboys host San Francisco in Week 10.

"Just to be able to run, be able to cut," Porter said about how his ankle felt while he was running. "I play a position where I got to guard the most athletic people on the field, so if I can't run, skip or jump, then I'm no use out there."

Dallas Cowboys cornerback Joey Porter Jr. (25) looks on from the field during an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on Nov. 1, 2026. (Cooper Neill/Getty Images)

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The ankle issue doesn't seem to be the only issue Porter is dealing with. Cowboys coach Brian Schottenheimer also said the starting defensive back has also experienced discomfort in his heel.

"The whole foot's jacked up," Porter said. "I was playing on it for a while, and it just kept getting worse to where I had to shut it down. I feel like all the guys are wanting me to get back. They know what I could do when I'm out there on the field. I bring a presence out there that is a game-changing type presence. I'm just trying to get back out there as fast as possible."

Porter was also sidelined with an illness when Dallas played the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 5.

Dallas Cowboys cornerback Joey Porter Jr. looks on against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia on Oct. 26, 2026. (Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)

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The 26-year-old cornerback is set to become a free agent after the season. The Cowboys entered this week in second place in the NFC East, trailing the New York Giants by one game in the win column.

The Giants play the Washington Commanders on Thursday night to open Week 10.