There is slight chance he might play Sunday against Chiefs

Wednesday, September 10, 2003

By Ed Bouchette, Post-Gazette Sports Writer

Joey Porter has turned from what Bill Cowher described as a very lucky young man a week ago into a fast-healing one as well.

Porter has improved so much from an Aug. 31 gunshot wound to his buttocks and thigh that he has an outside chance of playing Sunday against Kansas City.

Cowher yesterday listed Porter as "doubtful" for the second game of the season. That means, according to NFL injury-list guidelines, he has a 25 percent chance of playing. Even if he does not make it this week, he's on the optimistic end of the coach's prognosis of last week that he would miss 2 to 8 weeks of the season.

Dr. James Bradley removed a 9 mm bullet from Porter's thigh last Monday, the linebacker rejoined his teammates at their training facility Wednesday and he spent Sunday on their sideline, emotionally running and jumping around when his teammates made big plays.

"Everything we have had has been really positive," Cowher said. " I think the biggest thing was the wounds healing to the point where infection was not an issue. We are almost at that point. It was like eight days from the time of the surgery. So, he is doing some light jogging and running.

"As the information comes, it just keeps getting better and better. Knock on wood, hopefully it will continue to be that way ... you dangle that doubtful out there for him and see where he goes with it. That is the truth, if he is able to go at the end of the week, then we may let him play. If not, then we will see where he is next week and go from there."

E-mail this story   Print this story