This post was originally published on this site
The Pittsburgh Steelers defense entered Week 16 in dire straights on the injury front, and the bad just got worse against the Baltimore Ravens, as second-year cornerback Joey Porter Jr. exited the game with what was initially labeled as a calf injury. He was questionable to return, Burt Lauten of Steelers PR announced, prior to making an eventual return in Week 16 in the second half, though he left again before completing the game.
It seems as though the injury could be a bit more serious than we would have believed given his attempt to return in the game, however. Steelers beat reporter Nick Farabaugh of Penn Live reports that Porter Jr. is feared to have suffered a PCL injury (knee) that was causing pain in his calf.
Porter sustained the injury with just over six minutes left in the first quarter on a tackle against RB Derrick Henry, who amassed 52 rushing yards over the Ravens’ first two drives.
The Steelers entered this game short-handed in the secondary, as cornerback Donte Jackson was ruled out with a back injury after being questionable ahead of this game. With his absence, second-year CB Cory Trice Jr. got his first start since Week 3, when he suffered a hamstring injury that landed him on the injured reserve list.
The team was also without starting safety DeShon Elliott, who’s been out over the past two weeks with a hamstring injury.