Steelers’ top CB anticipates matchup against Lions’ Amon-Ra St. Brown

It’s still up in the air how many snaps Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown will see this Saturday at Ford Field in the preseason finale. But one thing’s certain: Joey Porter Jr. will be ready for him.

Earlier this week, the Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback spoke with reporters and shared that St. Brown has been on his radar for quite some time.

“Yeah, definitely, I’ve been knowing (about) him for a long time, (from) where he played at in high school (Mater Dei), so I’ve always been a fan of his game,” Porter shared when asked about preparing for St. Brown.

“(I’m) just trying to get that deep dive in with these guys, even though it’s not a regular season (game), just trying to get that regular-season feel. So yeah, that’s the approach we’ve been taking.”

The 24-year-old cornerback’s rookie season was impressive. He played in all 17 games, starting in 11 of them, and racked up 43 tackles, 10 pass deflections, and an interception. Remarkably, he allowed completions on just 47.4% of his targets in 2023—the lowest among all cornerbacks with 50+ targets. His efforts didn’t go unnoticed, earning him a fifth-place finish in NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year voting.

Porter is eager to follow in his father’s footsteps and become a Steelers legend, though in a different position. Going head-to-head with a talent like St. Brown is just part of his journey.

As for St. Brown, he’s coming off a stellar season where he earned First-team All-Pro honors, snagging 119 receptions for 1,515 yards and 10 touchdowns.

Saturday’s game could be another big test for Porter, who’s stepping into the role of the Steelers’ top cornerback this season—a challenge he’s already accustomed to from his time at Penn State.

“I’ve been doing that in college, just because of the talent I had to face there. You couldn’t go into those games unprepared,” Porter reflected. “I definitely feel like I’ve stepped it up a notch from college to the NFL, especially being around more vets who give me insight on how to really watch film.”