Cowboys' key in-season acquisition Joey Porter Jr. insists two-week absence is unrelated to contract future

What happened: Joey Porter Jr., acquired by the Dallas Cowboys in a late-September trade, said his two-week absence is due to an ankle and heel injury, not his contract situation. He did not practice Thursday. Key numbers: Four games played since the trade. Debut Oct. 4 against Houston. Inactive at Indianapolis. Why it matters: Porter dismissed contract speculation as noise and said his focus is playing. Coach Brian Schottenheimer said Porter has also had heel discomfort, and Porter could do more work Friday toward possibly playing Sunday against San Francisco.

Joey Porter Jr., acquired by the Dallas Cowboys in a late-September trade, said his two-week absence is due to an ankle and heel injury, not his contract situation. He did not practice Thursday.

Porter dismissed contract speculation as noise and said his focus is playing. Coach Brian Schottenheimer said Porter has also had heel discomfort, and Porter could do more work Friday toward possibly playing Sunday against San Francisco.