LATROBE, Pa. -- Two starters in the Pittsburgh Steelers secondary will begin training camp on the physically unable to perform list.
Hours after versatile defensive back Jalen Ramsey was placed on the PUP list due to a knee injury he suffered during minicamp, a source told ESPN that cornerback Joey Porter Jr. will be sidelined after aggravating his back during the Steelers' mobility workout Tuesday morning.
Ramsey did not require surgery, according to general manager Omar Khan, who added that he anticipates the three-time All-Pro will be sidelined "a couple weeks."
"We're just going to be smart about it," Khan said as the Steelers reported to St. Vincent College on Tuesday morning. "He's a pro. It's going to be a couple weeks. This isn't something where we anticipate him not being ready for the season."
After initially placing just Ramsey and second-year defensive back Donte Kent on the PUP list, the Steelers announced Porter's addition Tuesday afternoon.
Porter, a 2023 second-round draft pick, and his representatives have been working on an extension with the Steelers this offseason, though Khan said no extensions with their eligible players -- including Porter and defensive tackle Keeanu Benton -- were imminent as the team reported to camp.
Earlier in the offseason, the Steelers extended pass rusher Nick Herbig and tight end Darnell Washington.
"We obviously feel good about some of these young players, and we always talk about drafting, developing and extending our guys," Khan said. "And we'll see how it goes. Obviously, there's an interest in keeping a bunch of those guys here for a long time. ... We got a couple of those guys done, and there's nothing imminent right now, but I'd like to keep them all if I could. It's not realistic that you can do that the way the cap works, but we'll see."
Porter was a limited participant in OTAs and minicamp. Asked Tuesday if he had heard from Porter or his representatives about the cornerback's participation plan for training camp, Khan said he "expect[ed] anybody that's healthy and able to practice, to practice."
Despite the defensive backfield injuries, Khan said he isn't concerned about the depth of the secondary because of other offseason acquisitions and other players returning to full health.
Ramsey, 31, spent time at nickel corner, safety and cornerback last season -- and the new coaching staff emphasized the importance of Ramsey's versatility throughout the offseason.
"Camp's exciting at that position just because we haven't had a chance to get Jamel Dean on the field," Khan said. "He'll be out there. Darnell Savage, [Brandin] Echols, DeShon Elliott will be out there. And those guys, we'll be smart about how we work those guys and get them ready. But we feel good about the depth we had and the group we had in the offseason and still feel good about it today."
While Ramsey, Porter and Kent will start out on the sideline in Latrobe, Pittsburgh's offensive line will get a boost with the return of 2023 first-round pick Broderick Jones, who was medically cleared to return to practice before the start of camp after suffering a season-ending neck injury in late November.
Jones, who has experience starting at left and right tackle, didn't participate in football activities during the Steelers' offseason workout program.
"That was great news to see that he was cleared by both doctors," coach Mike McCarthy said Tuesday. "... I think it speaks volumes for Broderick and what he's been doing here the last couple of months. So I just think, like anything, when a player comes off of a medical clearance, you can't just go to a hundred miles an hour. And I think you'll see that in how his reps go and so forth.
"But Broderick, he's been a starter here. He gives us position flex. ... Broderick, he's a starter. He's a starter-level player. He has position flexibility, and that's how we'll get him started."