PITTSBURGH -- A day after opting to hold Joey Porter Jr. out of the season-opening win against the Atlanta Falcons, Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike McCarthy was noncommittal on the cornerback's timeline to return to game action. Asked if Porter, who missed training camp with a back injury he aggravated during a mobility workout on report day, would need more than this week to complete his "ramp-up" period, McCarthy said the plan was to increase Porter's workload beginning with Wednesday's practice.

Once the ramp-up period is over, McCarthy said, he expects Porter to play. Porter's next opportunity to get on the field is Sunday afternoon at Gillette Stadium against the New England Patriots. Porter, 26, has been embroiled in a contentious contract negotiation throughout the offseason, and it ended with the two sides not reaching a deal by the Steelers' regular-season negotiating deadline. The possibility of a trade lingers -- as does using the franchise tag on Porter before he reaches free agency next offseason -- but the Steelers have neither made nor received trade calls on the 2023 second-round pick.

Without Porter, the Steelers almost exclusively used zone coverage. But defensive coordinator Patrick Graham said his scheme varies week to week based on the opponent. Once Porter, who excels in man coverage, returns to the field, Graham's scheme will adapt to include his skill set.