PITTSBURGH (AP) — Joey Porter Jr. isn't getting a new contract before the start of the season. The Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback also isn't getting onto the field for the opener against Atlanta.
The Steelers made Porter inactive 90 minutes before kickoff, which also happened to be the club's self-imposed deadline to work something out before the season starts.
Porter is entering the final season of the rookie contract he signed in 2023. While the Steelers have re-signed several players from his draft class — including edge rusher Nick Herbig and tight end Darnell Washington — they were unable to come to terms with Porter.
The 26-year-old tweaked his back during a mobility test when the Steelers reported to training camp in July and spent the majority of the preseason on the physically unable to perform list, though coach Mike McCarthy said in August the club was at an “impasse” in negotiations with Porter.
Porter returned to practice last week and McCarthy said repeatedly that Porter was still in the “ramping up” phase, putting his status for Atlanta in doubt. Porter, who hasn't allowed a touchdown pass as the primary defender since his rookie season, said in May that he wanted to be among the highest-paid defensive backs in the league.
The team has a long-standing tradition of not negotiating during the course of the season, meaning the two sides will have to wait until mid-January at the earliest to get something done.
Pittsburgh does have the option of placing the franchise tag on Porter for 2027 if it wants, a tactic it most recently used on former running back Le'Veon Bell in 2017 and 2018. Bell was an All-Pro in 2017 but opted to sit out the following season when the team placed the tag on him again.
The Steelers also made quarterbacks Drew Allar and Will Howard, guard Gennings Dunker, defensive linemen Kevin Jobity Jr. and Gabriel Rubio inactive.
Quarterbacks Tua Tagovailoa and Michael Penix Jr. are both inactive for the Falcons because of injuries, meaning Cooper Rush will get the start. Cornerbacks Billy Bowman Jr. and Malcolm DeWalt, linebacker Christian Harris and tackle Ethan Onianwa are also inactive for Atlanta.
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FILE - Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Joey Porter Jr. reacts after a stop during the second half of an NFL wild-card playoff football game against the Houston Texans, Jan. 12, 2026, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Justin Berl, File)
DEN BOSCH, Netherlands (AP) — Lottie Woad assured it. Carlota Ciganda sealed it.
Vamos! The Solheim Cup is back in the hands of Team Europe.
The blue wave came early in the Sunday singles at Bernardus Golf and never went away, all the way through to Woad holing a putt from 2 feet on No. 17 to win her match and guarantee the Europeans would reach the 14 1/2 points needed to reclaim the crystal trophy from the United States.
Woad punched the air and jumped into the arms of her teammates who flooded onto the green in celebration.
The point that officially took Europe to its victory target in the Netherlands was secured by — who else? — Ciganda about 10 minutes later.
The Spaniard, who got the decisive point when Europe retained the Solheim Cup in 2023, completed a 4-and-2 victory over Jennifer Kupcho, a feisty American who had roared “Vamos!” ("Let's go!") when holing an outrageous 93-foot putt on the way to beating Ciganda in a spiky four-balls match on Saturday.
“Today I was really motivated to beat her,” Ciganda said, “because I knew it was going to be important.”
Strains of “Olé, Olé, Olé, Olé” drifted across the course as the last matches finished and the European team and staff celebrated with Champagne.
Captain Anna Nordqvist, her assistants as well as the players and their caddies formed a line, put their arms over one another’s shoulders, and walked as one up the 18th fairway toward the green where Celine Boutier — the remaining European player on the course — was wrapping up her match.
When Boutier finished, she piled into the mass celebrations.
The final score: Europe 15, the United States 13.
The Europeans have now won three of the last five editions, the only loss in that stretch coming in Virginia two years ago. The U.S. team didn't have possession of the trophy for long and is still without a win on the road since 2015.
“The Europeans played great today, and that’s the way it goes,” U.S. captain Angela Stanford said. “So their backs were against the wall, they had nothing to lose, and that’s exactly what they did — they came out and played well.”
The teams were tied at 8-8 after two days and set out Sunday in heavy rain for the 12 singles matches, with Europe going out fast, putting blue all over the scoreboard and ultimately winning six of the first eight matches. Ciganda, in Match 11, added the crucial other victory.
Early wins for Charley Hull and Linn Grant laid the platform for victory, the only wobble for Europe coming when U.S. player Alison Lee came from 4 down after 11 holes to beat Esther Henseleit, 1 up, for the greatest comeback in Solheim Cup history.
Rookies contributed massively for Europe all week and especially Sunday, with Woad, Nastasia Nadaud and Julia Lopez Ramirez all winning matches in the singles.
“I think it’s been one of the best teams that we’ve had in the last few years,” Ciganda said. “Everyone just a unit, a team. That’s what Europe is about.”
The U.S. leads the all-time series 11-8, with one draw.
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Nastasia Nadaud of Europe, second right, celebrates with teamates after they won the Solheim Cup on the final day in Den Bosch, Netherlands, Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)
Members of Team Europe celebrate after they won the Solheim Cup on the final day in Den Bosch, Netherlands, Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)
Lottie Woad of Europe of Europe celebrates with teammates after they won the Solheim Cup on the final day in Den Bosch, Netherlands, Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)
Carlota Ciganda of Europe embraces her caddie on the 16th green after beating Jennifer Kupcho of the United States in a singles match during the final day of the Solheim Cup in Den Bosch, Netherlands, Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)
Carlota Ciganda of Europe reacts as she walks onto the 16th green during the final day of the Solheim Cup in Den Bosch, Netherlands, Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)
Nelly Korda of the United States misses a putt on the 15th green during the final day of the Solheim Cup in Den Bosch, Netherlands, Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)
Linn Grant of Europe embraces Angel Yin of the United States after winning their singles match during the final day of the Solheim Cup in Den Bosch, Netherlands, Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)
Nelly Korda of the United States plays from the 8th tee during the final day of the Solheim Cup in Den Bosch, Netherlands, Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)
Linn Grant of Europe celebrates as she leaves the 6th green during the final day of the Solheim Cup in Den Bosch, Netherlands, Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)
Esther Henseleit of Europe plays from the 1st tee during the final day of the Solheim Cup in Den Bosch, Netherlands, Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)
Alison Lee of the United States plays from the 1st tee during the final day of the Solheim Cup in Den Bosch, Netherlands, Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)
Europe fans gather in the rain on the 1st tee on the final day of the Solheim Cup in Den Bosch, Netherlands, Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)
Spectators gather in the rain on the 1st tee on the final day of the Solheim Cup in Den Bosch, Netherlands, Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)
Charley Hull of Europe plays from the 1st tee during the final day of the Solheim Cup in Den Bosch, Netherlands, Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)
Maja Stark, right, and Linn Grant of Europe celebrate after putting on the 15th green during the Solheim Cup in Den Bosch, Netherlands, Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)
Andrea Lee, right, bumps fists with Yealimi Noh of the United States after holing a putt on the 9th green during the Solheim Cup in Den Bosch, Netherlands, Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)
Charley Hull of Europe plays from a bunker near the 8th green during the Solheim Cup in Den Bosch, Netherlands, Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)
Europe supporters stand along the course on day two of the Solheim Cup in Den Bosch, Netherlands, Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)
Jennifer Kupcho of the United States celebrates after holing a putt on the 18th green during the Solheim Cup in Den Bosch, Netherlands, Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)
