Joey Porter Jr. said Thursday that he has started running again, a small but important step after an ankle issue and illness left his availability in doubt for the San Francisco 49ers game. He did not take part in Wednesday's practice, and the Cowboys will use Friday and Saturday to decide whether he can line up in Week 10.
For Porter, the update is the first sign that the ankle problem he suffered in his debut against the Houston Texans is easing enough to let him build back toward football shape. He said the injury limited him over the next two weeks, eventually knocked him out of Week 9 against the Indianapolis Colts and, along with a severe intestinal illness, made for a frustrating start with the Cowboys.
That frustration has been obvious in his comments. Porter said trying to play through the ankle issue made it worse, and he also said his illness kept him out of what would have been his home debut against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He said he missed one game because of sickness and one because he was banged up, adding that all he can control is getting back on the field.
He also pushed back on the rumor that his limited availability has anything to do with contract status. Porter said he does not pay attention to that noise and does not care where it came from. What matters to him is getting on the field if he has any chance, and he said he wants to do that for a new team that he believes has already seen what he can bring when he is healthy.
The next answer will come in practice, not in words. If Porter keeps progressing on Friday and Saturday, the Cowboys can still make him active against the San Francisco 49ers. If he cannot, the wait on his return goes on, and Week 10 becomes another missed opportunity in a start that has already been slowed by two separate setbacks.
