FRISCO, Texas — Dallas Cowboys cornerback Joey Porter Jr. pushed back Thursday on online talk that his recent absence has anything to do with his contract, pointing instead to an ankle injury he has been fighting since his first game with the team.
Dallas acquired Porter from Pittsburgh in a late-September trade for a second-round draft pick. He has played in four games for the Cowboys, but he hurt the ankle in his Dallas debut against Houston on Oct. 4 and was later inactive for the Week 9 game at Indianapolis after trying to play through it.
Porter told reporters he did not understand where the contract theory started and that he pays it no attention. He said his only goal is winning and playing, and that he will be on the field whenever his body allows it. He also called the stretch frustrating because he joined a new club wanting to show what he can do.
There were small signs of progress. Porter said he has started running again after being held back for a couple of weeks, and that being able to sprint, cut and jump is essential for a player whose job is to cover the fastest athletes in the game. He was not a full participant in practice Wednesday or Thursday.
His work on Friday and Saturday is expected to decide whether he plays Sunday, when Dallas hosts San Francisco, the top team in the NFC.
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