Steelers vs. Chase and Higgins — Minus Porter Jr.

The situation between the Steelers and cornerback Joey Porter Jr. grows uglier by the day.

Even with Porter Jr. more active than usual in practice this week, all indications point to him sitting out Sunday’s pivotal matchup against the 2–0 Cincinnati Bengals.

For a defense that’s been one of the NFL’s top units this season, the secondary now faces the daunting task of handling Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins without their top cover man. Porter Jr. has historically matched up well against both — especially Higgins, whom he held to just 63 yards and a touchdown in their Week 11 win in 2025. With Porter Jr. now at odds with the team, the question becomes clear: how do the Steelers handle this duo without him?

One can surmise that defensive coordinator Patrick Graham won’t attempt a direct one‑for‑one replacement. Instead, he’ll likely lean into his trademark coverage multiplicity. Jalen Ramsey becomes the matchup‑flex piece, shifting between outside corner, the slot, and even safety‑depth alignments depending on Cincinnati’s formation.

Jamel Dean provides the steady boundary presence, taking on Higgins’ physical routes while Ramsey moves to wherever Chase aligns. Behind them, Asante Samuel Jr. and Brandin Echols give Graham the ability to toggle between man‑match and zone‑match looks, forcing Joe Burrow to diagnose coverage rather than predetermine throws.

The safeties will be just as paramount to Graham’s defense. Rayshawn Jenkins provides the veteran communication needed to shift cleanly between quarters, cover‑6, and bracket variations, while Jaquan Brisker becomes the downhill enforcer in the intermediate windows Higgins thrives in. Brisker’s ability to rotate down late — showing two‑high before triggering into robber — fits perfectly with Graham’s preference for muddying reads. Rookie Robert Spears‑Jennings likely remains a special‑teams contributor, but his range gives Pittsburgh an emergency third‑safety option if Graham wants to lean into heavier disguise packages.

Without Porter Jr., the Steelers should rely on Graham’s layered coverage menu — not a single replacement — to keep Chase and Higgins from dictating the game. It won’t be easy. It will take a full commitment from the defensive front to make Joe Burrow uncomfortable in the pocket, and a disciplined, coordinated effort from the entire secondary to neutralize what this talented tandem can do.