BREAKING: Cowboys Star Fires Back at Contract Accusations Amid Injuries
FRISCO, Texas — Dallas Cowboys cornerback Joey Porter Jr. has had enough of the whispers. On Thursday, the embattled defensive back forcefully denied allegations that his recent string of absences is tied to a desire for a new contract, insisting that a serious foot injury is the sole reason he has been sidelined during a critical stretch of the season.
The controversy stems from a turbulent first month in Dallas for Porter, who was acquired from the Pittsburgh Steelers on October 1 to bolster a secondary in need of playmakers . After a brief debut against the Houston Texans, Porter missed a Week 5 Thursday night matchup against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers due to a severe illness that reportedly included vomiting before the game . Following that absence, former All-Pro cornerback and current analyst Richard Sherman suggested on Amazon Prime that Porter might be fabricating the illness to protect himself for a contract extension—a narrative fueled by Porter’s previous holdout in Pittsburgh, where he sat out with a back injury while seeking a long-term deal .
Those accusations resurfaced this week when Porter was listed as a non-participant in Wednesday’s practice. Cowboys insider Bobby Belt noted on 105.3 The Fan that the situation was “lingering,” adding that “either that is his contract situation lingering a little bit as conspiracy theorists have suggested or the injury itself is lingering” .
Porter, speaking to reporters in the locker room on Thursday, pushed back hard against the speculation.
“I don’t even know where that narrative comes from,” Porter said. “I get it, it’s the internet, but I really don’t pay attention to that or really care for that. My goal is to win games and play football. That’s what I want to do. So if there’s any chance I can get on the field, I’m going to get on the field and do what I do best” .
The injury in question is an ankle/foot issue originally sustained during his Cowboys debut against the Texans on October 4 . Porter attempted to play through the pain in Weeks 7 and 8, but the injury worsened to the point where he was medically shut down for last Sunday’s win over the Indianapolis Colts . Head coach Brian Schottenheimer confirmed that the injury involves not just the ankle but also a heel issue .
Porter described the severity of the ailment in blunt terms, explaining why he cannot simply tough it out on Sunday.
“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 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” .
The timing of the injury is particularly frustrating for both parties. Porter is in the final year of his rookie contract and was viewed as a potential long-term fixture in Dallas. Cowboys owner Jerry Jones had indicated shortly after the trade that the team would evaluate a new deal, but those conversations have cooled as Porter has managed just 148 snaps across four games, recording eight tackles and three passes defended . When healthy, Porter has been effective—he played a season-high 51 snaps against the Eagles in Week 7—but his availability has been sporadic. He estimated that even when he was on the field, he was operating at roughly 70 percent capacity .
The Cowboys’ secondary desperately needs him back. Dallas is currently navigating a brutal stretch of injuries, with safety P.J. Locke dealing with multiple concussions, and cornerbacks Caleb Downs and others battling various ailments . The team is preparing to face a San Francisco 49ers offense led by Brock Purdy, Christian McCaffrey, and George Kittle—a matchup that demands a healthy and aggressive defensive backfield . Porter did not practice on Wednesday or Thursday, but he was seen running and working out during the open portion of Thursday’s session, a sign that progress is being made . His status for Sunday will likely be determined by what he can do at Friday’s practice.
For his part, Porter remains focused on returning to the field and proving his worth—not through a new contract, but through his play.
“It’s definitely frustrating. I’m on a new team and I want to show these guys what I can do,” Porter said. “I miss one game because of my sickness, and then I miss one because I’m banged up. Football is gonna happen. I really can’t control that. All I can control is my effort to get back on the field” .
As the Cowboys prepare for a pivotal NFC matchup against the 49ers, the hope in Dallas is that Porter’s foot heals quickly enough to allow him to silence the critics with his performance rather than his words.
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