FRISCO, Texas -- Dallas Cowboys cornerback Joey Porter Jr. wants it known his absence from the field the last two weeks has everything to do with an ankle injury and nothing to do with him worrying about a future contract.
"I don't even know where that narrative come from," Porter said. "I get it. It's the internet, but I really don't pay no attention to that or really care for that. My goal is to win games and play football and that's what I want to do. So if there's any chance I could get on the field, I'm going to get on the field and do what I do best."
Porter was inactive last week against the Indianapolis Colts and was unable to finish the loss to the Arizona Cardinals because of an ankle injury he first injured Oct. 4 against the Houston Texans in his first game with the Cowboys following the trade from the Pittsburgh Steelers.
On Thursday, Porter did not practice for the second straight day, but he worked on the resistance cords during the portion of practice open to the media Thursday. He said he did some running and felt confident.
He hopes to do more Friday with an eye on playing Sunday against the San Francisco 49ers.
"Just to be able to run, be able to cut," Porter said. "I play a position where I got to guard the most athletic people on the field, so if I can't run, skip, or jump, then I'm no use out there."
Head coach Brian Schottenheimer said Porter is dealing with a heel issue accompanied by the ankle.
"The whole foot's jacked up," Porter said. "I was playing on it for a while, and it just kept getting worse to where I had to shut it down. I feel like all the guys are wanting me to get back. They know what I could do when I'm out there on the field. I bring a presence out there that is a game changing type presence. I'm just trying to get back out there as fast as possible."
The Cowboys acquired Porter from the Steelers on Oct. 1 for a 2027 sixth round pick and a 2028 second round pick. He has played three full games, missing the Oct. 8 meeting against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers with an illness.
He is scheduled to be an unrestricted free agent when the season ends.
"It's definitely frustrating. I'm on a new team and I want to show these guys what I can do, and I feel like I have been for the most part when I'm on the field," Porter said. "... It's frustrating for everybody. I'm just trying to keep the main thing the main thing and get back as fast as possible to play with the guys."