Penn State football: Why did Joey Porter Jr., sit out against Maryland?
STATE COLLEGE — Penn State coach James Franklin acknowledged in the leadup to Saturday’s meeting with Maryland that his team could be down a few starters. But, one first-teamer who didn’t play never came up as a possible absence during the week.
The Lions were without star cornerback Joey Porter Jr., throughout the 30-0 win. He was present during warmups and joked around with teammates on the sideline but he was in sweats before and during the blowout victory at Beaver Stadium.
“The last thing I want to mention, just so you guys are aware and there’s no gray area out there, Joey Porter was not available tonight,” head coach James Franklin said.
“And, that was a non-football-injury situation that we’re working with. Hopefully we’ll have Joey back soon.”
How long Penn State will be without Porter Jr. is unclear
Per the usual, the leader of the Lions did not disclose the nature of the issue. He also didn’t say if the future early NFL Draft pick would return for either final regular season contest and/or the bowl game. Penn State did not need him on this night, however. The secondary was rarely challenge as Maryland struggled to both move the ball and fend off a relentless Nittany Lions pass rush. The Terps completed only 11 of 23 passes for 74 yards and Manny Diaz’s unit has six pass breakups as part of the high number of incompletions.
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With Porter Jr., sidelined, fellow starter Kalen King took on a more prominent role and finished with two tackles and two passes breakups. And, Johnny Dixon, who was inserted into the starting lineup, had one stop and one pass breakup. That pair plus the rest of the defense and team overall are surely rallying around Porter Jr., as he deals with whatever is currently keeping him off the field.
“We don’t have to tell Joey anything, because he knows; the type of person he is, e he knows what he has. He knows the type of player he is.
“So, like he’s just taking it day-by-day and he’s helping us anywhere he can. He’s just being just a great person for us. Even though he’s not on the field with us, he’s still here with us.”
Penn State will return to the field next Saturday at Rutgers. The Lions will be hoping to get ‘JPJ’ back for the game along with fellow injured starters Caedan Wallace, Olu Fashanu, and Curtis Jacobs, who all missed this win, as well.
