Joe Whitt Jr. backs Joey Porter Jr. amidst health questions

As external speculation continues to swirl around cornerback Joey Porter Jr.'s availability and overall health, Pittsburgh Steelers assistant head coach and secondary coach Joe Whitt Jr. offered a firm vote of confidence in the young cornerback.

The supportive statements come amidst a high-stakes contract standoff that has rapidly escalated into a trade narrative. Porter, entering the final year of his rookie contract, has reportedly been dealing with a lingering back injury. However, with negotiations over a long-term extension hitting a wall, primarily over guaranteed money, skeptics across the league view the lingering back issue as a classic "hold-in" tactic.