Cowboys’ Joey Porter Jr. Sent Home By His New Team Before ‘Thursday Night Football’ In Shocking Turn Of Events

This article was originally published on Total Pro Sports.

Joey Porter Jr. is out of the Cowboys’ Thursday night game against the Buccaneers.

The cornerback joined Dallas in a trade with the Steelers last Wednesday. He made his Cowboys debut against the Texans last Sunday.

Dallas listed Porter as inactive with an illness less than two hours before kickoff. ESPN’s Jane Slater reported he was “very sick” when he reached the facility, and the team sent him home. NFL insider Mike Garafolo added that Porter had been vomiting with a bad virus.

Porter Carried No Injury Designation Into Thursday’s Last-Minute Scratch

Porter did not appear on the injury report with a game designation this week, according to Sports Illustrated. A video also shows him covering his mouth as he entered the stadium.

Jerry Jones addressed the scratch before the game. “It’s disappointing (he’s not playing tonight), but we’ll have to overcome it,” he said, per CBS Sports. He added, “We got our work cut out for us.”

The timing hurts a secondary that already had problems. Cobie Durant has been out since Week 2 with a hamstring injury. Jerry Jones said Shavon Revel Jr. could miss multiple weeks while giving injury updates late last month.

Porter, 26, was the Steelers’ first-round pick in 2023. Dallas completed the Porter trade by sending Pittsburgh a 2028 second-round pick and a 2027 sixth-rounder. Against Houston, he drew one target and allowed no catches.

His contract future also looms. He sat out Pittsburgh’s first three games amid a contract dispute and a back issue. Jordan Schultz reported that Dallas will not offer an extension right away.