Porter allows no catches in 24-snap Cowboys debut

Joey Porter Jr. allowed no receptions in his Cowboys debut Sunday, giving Dallas a useful first look at its newly acquired cornerback in a 34-30 win over Houston. The result came with a limited workload: Porter played 24 of the defense's 52 snaps, according to the Cowboys' postgame report.

The team cited Next Gen Stats showing C.J. Stroud targeted Porter once across 19 pass-coverage snaps. That is an encouraging opening sample for a player who joined Dallas on Wednesday, though one target offers little basis for a broader judgment about the secondary.

Teammates help with the new calls

Porter credited safeties Malik Hooker and Caleb Downs with helping him communicate in Christian Parker's defense. Their conversations during the week continued on the field, he said, allowing him to feel comfortable with the calls he was asked to play.

"Communication, that's the biggest thing," Porter said in the team's report. He also acknowledged that learning the defense was part of the reason his playing time remained limited. Dallas got an immediate contribution while he continued that adjustment.

Associated Press reporter Kristie Rieken confirmed in her postgame account that Sunday was Porter's first action of the season. He had missed Pittsburgh's first three games while dealing with a back issue and a contract dispute.

An addition amid secondary injuries

Dallas made the trade after placing safety Jalen Thompson on injured reserve with a hamstring injury, AP reported earlier Sunday. Safety P.J. Locke was already on injured reserve with a torn plantar fascia. Those absences supplied part of the backdrop to the Cowboys' move for Porter.

Porter, 26, was Pittsburgh's second-round selection out of Penn State in 2023 and is in the final season of his four-year rookie contract, according to AP. Sunday's appearance established that Dallas could get him into a game just days after the move.

The wider defensive performance still left work to do. Houston finished with 397 total yards, 16 first downs and 30 points. Dallas improved to 2-2, with Tampa Bay visiting Thursday night.

Sources and postgame interview

Watch Joey Porter Jr.’s official postgame interview.

Read the Cowboys’ report on Porter’s debut and the Associated Press game report.