TAMPA, Fla. — Joey Porter Jr.’s professional football debut will have to wait another week.
Porter, the North Allegheny grad from Penn State and the first pick of the second round, was scratched from the Pittsburgh Steelers’ preseason opener Friday night against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium.
Porter was limited Wednesday in the final open practice at Saint Vincent College and had been bothered by an ankle injury.
Porter was among a handful of defensive backs who did not suit up because of injury. Safeties Damontae Kazee and Keanu Neal and versatile defensive back Tre Norwood also did not dress for the game. All-Pro free safety Minkah Fitzpatrick, who had only a few days of practice because of an excused absence, was a healthy scratch, as was cornerback Patrick Peterson
Other starters who did not play were defensive tackles Cameron Heyward and Larry Ogunjobi and outside linebacker T.J. Watt.
On defense, the Steelers’ starting secondary featured cornerbacks James Pierre and Levi Wallace and safeties Miles Killebrew and Kenny Robinson. The linebackers included three of four projected starters: Alex Highsmith on the outside along with Elandon Roberts and Cole Holcomb inside. The other starting outside linebacker was Markus Golden.
The defensive line starters were ends Isaiahh Loudermilk and Armon Watts, plus nose tackle Montravius Adams.
Wallace played just one series before being lifted in favor of Luq Barcoo. Kwon Alexander replaced Roberts after the opening series.
No anticipated starters were scratched on offense. Veteran wide receiver Allen Robinson started in the slot.
First-round pick Broderick Jones entered with the rest of the second-team offense on the second series.
Personal problem
The first personal foul of the preseason was produced by Alexander, who was called for unnecessary roughness on a drive that resulted in Tampa Bay scoring a touchdown to tie the score 7-7.
Alexander was cited for using his helmet to initiate contact. The infraction gave the Buccaneers a 17-yard gain and a first down at the Steelers 36. The Bucs tied the score on Baker Mayfield’s 8-yard fade to Trey Palmer — he got behind Pierre in coverage — with 12 minutes, 20 seconds left in the half.
Kancey out for Bucs
Former Pitt defensive lineman Calijah Kancey, the No. 19 overall pick for Tampa Bay, is out of a walking boot but did not suit up against the Steelers.
Kancey suffered a calf strain in a non-contact drill in training camp and had to leave the field on a cart. He is expected to miss a few more weeks, which could put his availability at the start of the season in doubt. While Kancey sat out, linebacker SirVocea Dennis dressed for the Bucs. The former Pitt linebacker was Tampa Bay’s fifth-round selection.
More connections
Former Steelers offensive lineman Matt Feiler also did not play for Tampa Bay. He signed with the Buccaneers to play guard after being released by the Los Angeles Chargers in March. Feiler was used at tackle and guard with the Steelers before hitting free agency in 2021.
Other former Steelers on the Tampa Bay roster are linebackers Ulysees Gilbert III and Hamilcar Rashed Jr.
Joe Rutter is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Joe by email at jrutter@triblive.com or via Twitter .