Joey Porter Jr. shut down just about every top receiver the league threw his way two years ago in his rookie season. The only receiver that got the best of him was DK Metcalf, and through a twist of fate, the two are now teammates on the Pittsburgh Steelers. Porter may never get another shot to redeem his rookie-season showing in an actual game, but he will get plenty of reps against him in practice.<\/p>\n
It sounds like nothing has changed with how challenging it is to cover Metcalf.<\/p>\n
\u201cFreak of nature,\u201d Porter said via The Athletic\u2019s Mike DeFabo on X<\/a>. \u201cThere\u2019s not a lot of guys that look like him that can run like him. So it\u2019s definitely something different every time you go against him.\u201d<\/p>\n Through the first three unpadded practices, the two of them are trading blows. There was at least one rep today in seven shots when Porter broke up a pass intended for Metcalf in the end zone. And another rep when Aaron Rodgers hit Metcalf on a slant for a touchdown.<\/p>\n Defense making plays vs Aaron Rodgers this team period. Queen and DeShon Elliott with breakups. Long heave to Metcalf covered well by Porter and incomplete. #Steelers<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Alex Kozora (@Alex_Kozora) July 26, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n Porter is about as long as a corner gets in the NFL at 6024, 193 pounds, with 34-inch arms. But he is still dwarfed by Metcalf at 6033, 228 pounds with a noticeably thicker build. And despite the size advantage, Metcalf ran a 4.33-second 40-yard dash when he entered the league. It\u2019s almost unfair to have that blend of size and athleticism.<\/p>\n When Porter matched up against Metcalf in Week 17 of 2023, he shadowed him on 81.3 percent of his routes<\/a> and allowed three receptions for 86 yards. It wasn\u2019t a back-breaking performance, and the Steelers won the game, but it was the most he allowed that season. Now, he gets all the reps he could possibly want to figure him out.<\/p>\n It\u2019s just like the famous line from Dodgeball<\/a>: \u201cIf you can dodge a wrench, you can dodge a ball.\u201d<\/p>\n In this case: If you can cover a Metcalf, you can cover\u2026 well, just about anybody.<\/p>\n