Just last week, Joey Porter Jr. told reporters he “definitely” would play for the Pittsburgh Steelers this season despite a contract standoff and a lingering back issue.
That’s not going to happen. The Steelers have traded the fourth-year cornerback to Dallas for a second-round 2028 draft pick and a sixth-round 2027 pick, the Cowboys announced Thursday morning.
“Here I come…… Dallas,” Porter wrote on a post to his Instagram Stories early Thursday.
The son of a former Steelers great — Joey Porter Sr. won a Super Bowl with the Steelers during his 13 years as an NFL linebacker and spent several years with the team as a defensive coach — Porter was selected by Pittsburgh in the second round of the 2023 draft. He broke up 31 passes over his first three seasons.
Porter missed all of training camp and preseason while on the Steelers’ physically unable to perform list because of the reported back issues. During the same period of time, he and the Steelers were unable to come to terms on a contract extension on the rookie deal that was set to expire after this season. The Steelers do not negotiate contracts once a season has begun.
Since the season started, Porter has been a limited participant in practices but was inactive in all three games. As the Steelers prepared to face the Cleveland Browns on “Thursday Night Football” this week, Porter was listed as a full participant in practice, although the team added a back injury to Porter’s injury status on Wednesday.
Porter is the third Steelers player traded to the Cowboys in the last two years, following receiver George Pickens last year and offensive lineman Broderick Jones just before this season started. First-year Steelers coach Mike McCarthy was the Cowboys coach from 2020 to 2024.
Last year, a contract dispute led Dallas to deal star edge rusher Micah Parsons to the Green Bay Packers just before the start of the regular season.
JOEY Essex’s most explosive TOWIE brawl has resurfaced 14 years on as he prepares to step back into the boxing ring.
Back in 2012, the reality star was filmed grappling with co-star Ricky Rayment in the street as their castmates screamed for them to stop.
Joey Essex and Ricky Rayment came to blows in a TOWIE scene from 2012Joey and Ricky’s row spilled onto the street as their TOWIE co-stars screamed for them to stop
Footage of the showdown has recently gone viral, with one fan posting it alongside the words: “The moment Joey Essex lost his head on TV.”
The row erupted at the relaunch of Lauren Goodger’s salon after Joey became convinced Ricky had been talking about him behind his back.
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Confronting his co-star, Joey snapped: “You’re chatting s**t behind my back mate.”
Ricky insisted he had been “off his nut” and tried to apologise, but the argument continued.
Ricky Rayment clashed with Joey after a row at Lauren Goodger’s salon relaunchJoey is set to face Dapper Laughs at London’s Copper Box Arena on October 10Credit: Misfits/ boohooMAN
Joey’s sister Frankie Essex stepped in, only for Ricky to tell her: “No one’s talking about you and no one ever will talk about you.”
The pair then headed outside, where cameras caught them grappling and throwing punches as the women shouted for them to stop.
The fan who shared the clip wrote: “This was crazy.”
Another commented: “Even celebs who are meant to be cut crease perfect lose their cool sometimes.”
A third said: “I’ve never seen this before. Respect to Joey for sticking up for his relatives.”
The explosive showdown can still be watched on ITVX in series four, episode nine of The Only Way Is Essex.
It comes as Joey, 36, is now preparing to headline a Misfits Boxing show against controversial comic Dapper Laughs, whose real name is Daniel O’Reilly.
The pair will meet at London’s Copper Box Arena on Saturday, October 10.
It will be Joey’s second bout for Misfits after he beat Portuguese influencer Numeiro on points in Manchester last August.
Misfits have confirmed that Joey has three fights planned with the promotion, making the Dapper Laughs clash the next step in his boxing run.
WHEN Joey Essex was pictured getting close with newly single Love Island star Priya Jaswal earlier this month, many hoped it was the start of the latest reality TV romance.
But The Sun can reveal that despite their late-night flirtation things have not been heating up between the Towie icon and the Surrey-born beauty for one very surprising reason.
Joey Essex has dated a string of beauties, including Grace Jackson, pictured, but his latest romance has cooled for a very surprising reasonCredit: RexThings were heating up between Joey Essex and newly single Love islander Priya as they chatted all night at the National Television Awards earlier this month
Even though Joey has acquired something of a lothario reputation – dating a bevvy of beauties including Jesy Potts and Sam Faiers, since rising to fame on the ITV reality show in 2011 – he’s got his eyes on a very different sort of prize, I’m told.
A source tells me: “Priya and Joey spent the evening laughing and joking away so many assumed it could turn into something more serious.
“But Joey is taking a break from women and sex at the moment. In fact, he’s taken a vow of chastity.
“He’s got this big boxing match next month and he’s taking it very seriously.
“He is determined to win and has been sweating it out in the gym and is going to give it everything he has got.
“So Joey is on a strict sex ban until after the fight.”
The 36-year-old TV star is scheduled for a Misfits Boxing match on October 10 against comedian Dapper Laughs – real name Daniel O’Reilly – at the Copper Box Arena, London.
Misfits was launched in 2022 by YouTube star KSI and his manager Mams Taylor as the home for celebrity-style crossover bouts.
Priya was in the latest season of Love IslandCredit: Shutterstock EditorialPriya arrives at the NTAsCredit: Ian West/PA Wire
The effectiveness of sex bans before big sporting bouts is contested, but it is thought that Muhammad Ali abstained for six weeks prior to matches, as he believed avoiding sex preserved testosterone, focus and leg strength.
Joey is not the only modern day boxer to take a pre-match vow of chastity.
Tyson Fury has also switched to no-sex preparations, instead of his previous method of masturbating furiously before matches.
In 2022, ahead of his fight against Derek Chisora, Fury told Barstool Sports: “You know how I used to masturbate seven times per day to give me power?
Joey dated Jessy Potts after they got together in Love IslandCredit: WireImage
“This time I’m celibate. I’m celibate for seven weeks until the fight. It’s a new method, I’m trying something out.
“I’m going in there with a loaded gun, someone’s getting in severe trouble.
“I’m gonna be testosteroned out of my head completely. Seven weeks’ worth.”
Joey’s stringent new regime will be a bitter blow for gorgeous Priya, 25, who is newly single after splitting from Love Island villa beau Aidan Murphy hours before the NTAs.
Joey and Priya were inseparable at the after party at London’s O2 arena, looking cosy as they chatted for hours and then left the bash together.
They then carried on partying at the after-after party in the Skybar at the nearby Intercontinental Hotel.
A source said at the time: “Joey and Priya really hit it off and got close. We’ll have to see what happens.
“Obviously Priya is very fresh to showbiz and just out of her connection with Aidan so we’ll see.”
However, according to sources, the pair swapped numbers and exchanged messages since their fun night out together.
It is not the first time that Joey has been linked to a Love Island beauty.
The London-born star even did his own stint in the villa in 2024, entering on the evening of Day 1 as the first “bombshell” of the series. Essex was the first celebrity to appear on the revived version of the show.
Joey was linked to model Grace Jackson, with whom he reportedly enjoyed a whirlwind romance for around six weeks in early 2024 after meeting in Dubai.
However, their relationship ended abruptly, leaving Grace feeling “hurt and confused” by Joey’s decision to break up.
The situation took an unexpected turn when Grace entered the Love Island villa on June 13, 2024, much to Joey’s shock.
It certainly called fireworks and became the drama of the season.
He was initially coupled up with Samantha Kenny, but later swayed toward bombshell Grace, leading to explosive arguments and mixed signals.
Joey then later turned his attention to another bombshell, Jessy Potts. This transition caused massive fallout with Grace, resulting in explosive arguments that dominated the screen time.
Joey Essex has thrown himself back into the gym to work on his well-honed bodyCredit: InstagramLast year Joey Essex fought Joao Barbosa at the AO Arena n ManchesterCredit: Getty
But it was not meant to be. Joey Essex and Jessy Potts confirmed their split on September 18, 2024.
The break up came just seven weeks after they left the Love Island villa together.
Despite their initial connection, both Joey and Jessy cited their busy schedules as a significant factor contributing to their breakup.
Jessy said that they “tried to make it work”, but the demands of their post-villa lives made it challenging to maintain their relationship.
More recently Joey confirmed on The Sun’s Showbiz Fix that he is a single man, and if his boxing career continues to thrive, it might just stay that way.
