What happened: Pittsburgh and Joey Porter Jr. did not reach an extension before the team's in season cutoff, and he did not play in Week 1. The Steelers have maintained that a back injury, not a holdout, caused the absence, and that he is in the ramp up stage for more practice work.

Why it matters: That is exactly why a trade feels like an overreaction. The Steelers can control his rights into the 2028 offseason, so there is no urgent need to move a premium position player while trying to stay competitive in 2026.