Jalen Ramsey Says Report Claiming he's Playing Against Patriots is Premature

Dolphins could get All-Pro cornerback Jalen Ramsey back this weekend, but first he needs to receive his medical clearance to play

Miami Dolphins cornerback Jalen Ramsey challenged a report that he's set to make his season debut Sunday against the New England Patriots.

The Dolphins' top offseason acquisition then used his social media account to explain his concerns about the ESPN report, before admitting he hopes it's accurate.

“So this is why I just got a crazy amount of texts,” Ramsey wrote on X, which is new name for Twitter, in response to an report from Adam Schefter, who claims the six-time Pro Bowl selection will be active for Sunday's 1 p.m. home game against the New England Patriots.

“Well, this is news to me," wrote Ramsey, who had the meniscus in his left knee surgically repaired nearly three months ago. "(Expletive) don’t care about being right, they care about being first in today’s media. That’s sad.”

Ramsey needs clearance for a return

Ramsey will conclude his second straight week of practices on Friday, but his participation has been limited during every session.

Last week he was part of the Dolphins' scout team, helping the offense get prepared for it's opponent, and Miami's coaches named him the defense's scout team player of the week.

This week Ramsey's been working with the base defense, and is auditioning for a contributing role in a secondary that's viewed as the weak link of Miami's defense.

It's logical to conclude that if he doesn't suffer a setback, and gains the medical clearance needed to play, that he'll be on the field on Sunday.

"Full transparency, there’s a CHANCE that I can play this Sunday, but that decision genuinely isn’t made yet so that is news to me, just like it is to y’all," Ramsey said. "I have to go through a whole process to feel GREAT enough to play. I won’t play if I feel any less than GREAT.

"I’m a glass half full type guy [though] so I’m claiming a great two days for my body in hopes to turn up come Sunday," Ramsey continued. "I must [have] looked good in practice today."

Teams have rave reviews for Ramsey

That seems to be the sentiment from his teammates, many of whom helped him celebrate his 29th birthday this week.

“Very impressive how he runs with our fast guys, how he transitions in and out of breaks with them,” quarterback Tua Tagovailoa said. “[He] almost mirrored [the receivers] while our guys were running full speed. And for him to break down on a dime the way that they break down is very impressive.”

Ramsey has consistently attended team meets, position meetings, practices, and games, so he'd fully invested in what the Dolphins have been doing, and is mentally  ready to step in on Sunday.

“What’s fortunate for us is that although he’s new to this team, the crossover in scheme is huge for him,” coach Mike McDaniel said about Ramsey, who has pulled down 19 interceptions, forced seven fumbles, recovered another two, and produced two sacks in the 108 regular season games he's played. “He’s actually the most experienced player in this defense that we really have from his years from L.A. with coach (Brandon) Staley and Raheem Morris running the same system that Staley obviously [used] with Vic (Fangio) in Chicago.”

Whether it’s this week, next, or a month from now, simply having options at cornerback and safeties will benefit a secondary that has had to rely on journeymen and special teams contributors like Eli Apple, Justin Bethel and Parry Nickerson for the first seven games, and at times has struggled.

To make room for Ramsey on the 53-man roster Miami would likely have to cut one player, and it'll likely be a cornerback considering that unit has eight players on the 53-man roster without Ramsey.

Opposing quarterbacks have a 100.3 passer rating against Miami, which ranks seventh-worst in the NFL. Only the Denver Broncos (114.2), Los Angeles Chargers (105.6), Arizona Cardinals (102.5), Tennessee Titans (101.0), Buffalo Bills (100.7) and Minnesota Vikings (100.4) have a worse rating.

“He is progressing well, practicing more this week. We’ll see how that turns out by Sunday," defensive coordinator Vic Fangio said of Ramsey. “Anytime you add good players to your team, it will change. It should be a benefit, both from their production and what it allows you to do schematically.”