Tag: Jalen Ramsey

Why Mike McDaniel ‘couldn’t be happier’ about Jalen Ramsey’s rough game

Mike McDaniel isn’t worried about Jalen Ramsey’s tough day vs. the Jets and he’s excited about what it means for the team moving forward.

Miami Dolphins cornerback Jalen Ramsey didn’t have his finest performance against the New York Jets in Week 14.

While opponents are typically wary about testing the seven-time Pro Bowler, the Jets’ Aaron Rodgers threw the cornerback’s direction eight times Sunday, per PFF, for six completions and 146 yards. It was the most yards allowed by Ramsey in a game since he joined the Dolphins in 2023.

Head coach Mike McDaniel says those numbers deserve some context, though.

“When you have an asset such as Jalen Ramsey is you can lean on his talents in very aggressive ways and sometimes kind of give all help to all others – not just safeties, but body position of underneath coverage,” McDaniel said Wednesday. “There’s certain times that I think he believes, and we believe, that the defense is best served when he’s on an island.”

And even though Ramsey wasn’t able to lockdown Garrett Wilson on an island, McDaniel isn’t worried about the cornerback’s play heading into a matchup against Nico Collins and Tank Dell of the Houston Texans. In fact, he’s pretty excited about it.

“I couldn’t be happier that one of our top competitors on this team was challenged because I just know how he responds,” McDaniel said. “I thought he had some of his best technique within that game. He’s a very prideful dude that is one of those guys that takes everything personal on the football field in a good way. So I know we’re going to get the best version of Jalen Ramsey versus the Texans.”

A strong showing from Ramsey would go a long way toward the Dolphins getting another win Sunday. Houston is 4-0 in games when Collins eclipses 100 receiving yards and lost three of five games when he was out of action with a hamstring injury.

If Ramsey and the rest of the Dolphins secondary can’t contain the fourth-year receiver, it could be another long day for the Miami defense. McDaniel evidently doesn’t believe Ramsey would allow that to happen twice.

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Kendall Fuller: Dolphins secondary ‘need to get things fixed’

Despite having a fully healthy secondary, the Dolphins defense still allowed the Jets pass game to find success.

Dolphins cornerback Kendall Fuller returned to the field Sunday after missing three games with a concussion. The Dolphins finally had a fully healthy cornerback lineup with starters Fuller, Jalen Ramsey, and Kader Kohou all in action.

However, despite having their ideal lineup the Dolphins secondary struggled to contain the Jets wide receiver duo of Garrett Wilson and Davante Adams.

Wilson recorded 114 yards on seven receptions, while Adams recorded nine receptions for 109 yards and a touchdown. Aaron Rodgers passed for over 300 yards for the first time since 2021.

“Kader has been in the league three years, me and Jalen both nine years, there’s days where you look at the film and you’re like, ‘Dang, we could have been better,'” Fuller said. “You don’t necessarily reconcile it. When you leave the game, you know you could’ve done better.

“It always feels good to correct things and know that you need to get things fixed after a win. I mean after the game, we just know different things that we’ve got to work on, get better to be better for next Sunday.”

The Dolphins needed a clutch fourth quarter and overtime performance from quarterback Tua Tagovailoa and the Miami offense to grind out the victory. The saving grace for the Dolphins defense was that it did enough when backed up in its own territory to force a few field goals instead of touchdowns.

Miami’s upcoming matchup presents another challenge for the secondary with the Houston Texans’ wide receiver duo of Nico Collins and Tank Dell.

Fuller, along with the rest of the Dolphins secondary will have to do a better job shutting down the passing game led by second-year quarterback C.J. Stroud. Otherwise, Tagovailoa will have to continue to play nearly perfect football to keep the Dolphins playoff hopes alive.

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Only 3 Dolphins are top 10 at their position in early Pro Bowl voting

Dolphins players are off to a rough start in Pro Bowl voting.

The Miami Dolphins’ lackluster 2024 season evidently hasn’t inspired many fans to vote for the team’s players to go to the Pro Bowl Games. In the first release from the NFL, only three Dolphins players were top 10 in voting at their position.

Alec Ingold has the fourth most votes among fullbacks, Jonnu Smith is fifth among tight ends, and Jalen Ramsey is ninth in the cornerbacks race. None of those players being in the mix is a surprise, especially considering there aren’t even 10 fullbacks who qualify for votes.

But only one fullback, two tight ends, and four cornerbacks from each conference will earn a spot. Ingold, Smith, and Ramsey are all currently on the outside looking in.

Fans don’t solely determine the Pro Bowl rosters, though. They account for a third of the formula with votes from NFL players and coaches making up the other two thirds.

Among those currently outside the top 10 at their position with a strong argument for inclusion are Tua Tagovailoa, who leads the NFL in completion percentage, and Terron Armstead, who is the No. 2 graded offensive tackle on PFF.

Pro Bowl voting will remain open for fans until Dec. 23.

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Tyreek Hill, Jalen Ramsey full participants in Thursday practice

Tyreek Hill and Jalen Ramsey were upgraded to full participation in practice Thursday.

The Miami Dolphins provided some positive updates in their Thursday injury report.

While three players — offensive tackle Terron Armstead, defensive lineman Calais Campbell, and cornerback Kendall Fuller — were still missing from the practice field, Jordan Poyer returned on a limited basis and two star players, wide receiver Tyreek Hill and cornerback Jalen Ramsey, were upgraded to full participation.

Thursday participation

DNP

  • OT Terron Armstead (knee)
  • DT Calais Campbell (rest)
  • CB Kendall Fuller (concussion)

Limited

  • FB Alec Ingold (calf)
  • DT Benito Jones (shoulder)
  • G Robert Jones (knee/groin)
  • S Jordan Poyer (rest)
  • G Isaiah Wynn (quad/knee)

Full

  • OLB Tyus Bowser (knee/calf)
  • C Aaron Brewer (shoulder/calf)
  • LB Jordyn Brooks (wrist)
  • TE Julian Hill (shoulder)
  • WR Tyreek Hill (wrist)
  • S Jevón Holland (hand/knee)
  • S Patrick McMorris (calf)
  • RB Raheem Mostert (hip)
  • CB Jalen Ramsey (knee)

Armstead was listed as questionable for the Dolphins’ Week 11 game against the Las Vegas Raiders, but played in the contest. On Wednesday, Miami coach Mike McDaniel said he was pessimistic about Kendall Fuller’s chances at playing Sunday against the New England Patriots.

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Terron Armstead, 4 other Dolphins questionable for Week 11 vs. Raiders

The Dolphins only ruled out one player for Sunday, but they have five listed as questionable.

The Miami Dolphins ruled cornerback Kendall Fuller, who suffered his second concussion of the season in a win against the Los Angeles Rams, and the team listed five players as questionable for Week 11.

Among those with their status up in the air is offensive tackle Terron Armstead, who is dealing with a knee injury, according to the injury report.

The Dolphins are already without starting right tackle Austin Jackson for the remainder of the year and plan to start veteran Kendall Lamm in his place. If Armstead is also out of action, second-round rookie Patrick Paul would be asked to start, presumably at left tackle.

Dolphins injury report

Out

  • CB Kendall Fuller (concussion)

Questionable

  • OT Terron Armstead (rest/knee)
  • FB Alec Ingold (calf)
  • OL Robert Jones (knee)
  • S Patrick McMorris (calf)
  • OL Isaiah Wynn (quad/knee)

Raiders injury report

Out

  • CB Nate Hobbs (ankle)
  • C Andre James (ankle)
  • G Cody Whitehair (ankle)
  • TE Harrison Bryant (ankle)

Questionable

  • TE Michael Meyer (not injury related)

Not on the list are wide receiver Tyreek Hill and cornerback Jalen Ramsey, who are both ready to go despite injuries that cost them practice time this week.

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Jalen Ramsey, 6 other Dolphins limited in Thursday practice

Jalen Ramsey and Tyreek Hill were among the players limited in practice Thursday.

The Miami Dolphins were without four players at practice Thursday, although only one of those absences was due to injury. Offensive tackle Terron Armstead and defensive lineman Calais Campbell were given veteran rest days, and tight end Jack Stoll wasn’t on the field after getting claimed off waivers Wednesday.

Only veteran cornerback Kendall Fuller, who suffered his second concussion of the season and has already been ruled out for Sunday, was unavailable due to injury.

Seven players, including wide receiver Tyreek Hill and cornerback Jalen Ramsey, were limited.

Thursday participation

DNP

  • OT Terron Armstead (rest/knee)
  • DT Calais Campbell (rest)
  • CB Kendall Fuller (concussion)
  • TE Jack Stoll (not injury related)

Limited

  • TE Julian Hill (shoulder)
  • WR Tyreek Hill (wrist)
  • FB Alec Ingold (calf)
  • OL Robert Jones (knee)
  • S Jordan Poyer (rest)
  • CB Jalen Ramsey (knee)
  • OL Isaiah Wynn (quad/knee)

Full

  • WR Odell Beckham Jr. (knee)
  • OLB Tyus Bowser (knee/calf)
  • S Jevón Holland (hand/knee)
  • CB Kader Kohou (knee)
  • S Patrick McMorris (calf)

Tyreek Hill told reporters Thursday that his wrist injury is “going to get worse” as the season continues, but he plans to “suck it up and just deal with the pain.”

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Watch: Cameras catch Cooper Kupp’s postgame chat with Jalen Ramsey

Cameras caught a cool moment between Cooper Kupp and Jalen Ramsey after Rams-Dolphins on Monday night

Cooper Kupp and Jalen Ramsey were teammates for three and a half seasons in Los Angeles, winning a Super Bowl together as members of the Rams. Monday night was Ramsey’s first game against his former team, returning to the place where he won a ring with Kupp less than three years ago.

It was Ramsey’s Dolphins who came away with the 23-15 win over the Rams and after the game, the two All-Pros caught up on the field. Kupp and Ramsey shared a cool moment, which was caught by cameras and posted by the Rams on social media.

Ramsey thanked Kupp for sending him some of his Dodo Coffee Co. coffee and wished him well the rest of the way.

“What’s up, brother? How you doing? Thank you for the coffee, my shorty loves it,” Ramsey said.

Kupp told Ramsey that he’s “playing great ball” and wished him “a great rest of the year.”

How has Jalen Ramsey performed against former teams in his 9-year career?

Ramsey got revenge against the Jaguars. Are the Rams next?

Jalen Ramsey has gone above and beyond the potential that made him the fifth overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft. In eight-plus seasons in the league, he’s been a nine-time Pro Bowler and three-time All-Pro.

He’s also been one of the NFL’s more outspoken players. Back in 2019, a confrontation with then-Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Doug Marrone led him to issue a trade request just two weeks into the season. The Jags acceded fewer than two weeks later, sending him to the Los Angeles Rams in exchange for a pair of first round draft picks and a fourth-rounder.

That move paid off for Ramsey and the Rams. He returned to All-Pro form and was a key piece of Los Angeles’s 2021 Super Bowl champion roster.

It also allowed him some minor revenge against his former team. As a cross-conference opponent, he had only a single opportunity to face the franchise that failed to maximize the draft picks it gleaned through his departure (they were spent on K’Lavon Chaisson and Travis Etienne). But Ramsey put in work that afternoon in 2021, allowing just one completion on four Trevor Lawrence passes thrown his way. He knocked down one of those attempts and recovered a fumble in a 37-7 Rams win.

Ramsey’s next showdown with a former employer won’t have the same acrimony of his game against the Jags. While he was happy to leave a Rams team that looked to be in the midst of a rebuild:

there weren’t public signs of frustration and displeasure otherwise. There’s no doubt he’ll be motivated to shine in front of his former teammates, but a big win over the Rams probably won’t have the same meaning as trashing Jacksonville did three years earlier.

Jalen Ramsey says Cooper Kupp is still ‘easily’ a top-5 WR

Jalen Ramsey had high praise for Cooper Kupp ahead of tonight’s matchup, leaving no doubt about where he ranks among the NFL’s top WRs

Jalen Ramsey and Cooper Kupp were teammates in Los Angeles for three and a half years, helping the Rams win Super Bowl LVI in 2021. Being on the same team for as long as they were, Ramsey and Kupp saw each other a lot on the practice field.

Ramsey always had a ton of respect for Kupp’s game and regularly praised the Rams wide receiver, and that admiration hasn’t waned now that they’re no longer on the same team. Ramsey still views Kupp as one of the best wideouts in football, putting him in the top five at his position leading up to Monday night’s game between the Rams and Dolphins.

“They were great,” Ramsey said, via the Palm Beach Post. “I’ve got a ton of respect for Coop. I easily think he’s a top five receiver. He and Matthew (Stafford) have a chemistry, great connection. And yeah, it was it was truly iron sharpening iron. We worked. We made each other better.”

Ramsey may be in Miami now, but he still has a lot of love for Los Angeles and the Rams, saying the city of LA is “like a home to me.”

“I never got an opportunity to give like a farewell gift to, you know, all the people out there,” Ramsey said. “It’s like a home to me. It’s like a family. I’ve got some family from out there. My daughter was born out there. Great memories out there. Everlasting memories of community, always treated me and my family right, nothing but loved and respected. So, still got a lot of ties out there. Still go out there often. A lot of positive energy out there. Nothing, like, negative that I could say about my time there.”

Monday will be Ramsey’s first time back in Los Angeles to face his former team, which traded him to the Dolphins in 2023. That adds to the magnitude of this matchup between the Rams and Dolphins, which might be a must-win game for his 2-6 Miami team.

If there’s one receiver that’s likely to see Ramsey often in coverage, it’s Kupp. Both players primarily line up in the slot, as they did often in practice when they were teammates with the Rams.

Kupp recalled those battles in Los Angeles, appreciating the way they made each other better.

“All those ‘Mamba’ periods. There were a lot of times when he played that star role for us for a while and with me playing in the slot a lot of the time, we ended up being matched up on each other often,” Kupp said Friday. “It was always so competitive. The physicality and the urgency that he plays with, it makes you meet him there. You can’t hesitate at all. It was something I appreciated about the way that Jalen played the game.”

Ramsey’s first season in Miami didn’t go according to plan in 2023, struggling to get going in Vic Fangio’s defense. But in 2024, he’s the Dolphins’ highest-graded player on defense (83.4), tied with Calais Campbell, per PFF.

The Rams know how talented and impactful Ramsey can be in the secondary, so they’ll try to find ways to attack other defenders instead of going at the All-Pro corner. That’s not to say Kupp will shy away from that matchup, but there are better ways to exploit Miami’s defense.

Matthew Stafford ready for ‘big challenge’ of facing former Rams CB Jalen Ramsey

See what Matthew Stafford said about Jalen Ramsey ahead of their matchup on Monday night, which is just their 2nd meeting as opponents

Matthew Stafford has had his fair shares of battles against star DBs, who have impacted the overall performance of the offense throughout his career. However, arguably his most difficult challenges came during the week of preparation instead of on Sundays.

While most teams shiver at the thought of playing against seven-time Pro Bowler Jalen Ramsey, Stafford had to face the future Hall of Fame cornerback every day in practice. As they say, iron sharpens iron and Stafford’s daily duels with Ramsey resulted in both players being victorious in Super Bowl LVI.

While the Rams’ cap situation saw their time as teammates come to an end, it’s all love for Stafford heading into this week’s game against Ramsey and the Dolphins – his first game against the former Rams corner.

“I practiced against him for a while there. I have so much respect for who he is as a player and a teammate,” Stafford said of Ramsey. “He affects the game in so many different ways, even if a lot of times guys are staying away from him. It’s basically a one for one that he’s taking away out there. He’s doing a heck of a job like he always does. He’s mixing it in there in the run game, finishing plays, blitzing, sacking the quarterback and getting a tipped interception last week. He’s doing all the things you want from Jalen Ramsey and I got a ton of respect for him. I had an amazing time playing with him as a teammate and that’ll be a big challenge for us come Monday night.”

Ramsey is now 30 years old but it doesn’t seem like his athleticism has declined at all.

“It still jumps off the tape,” Stafford said of Ramsey’s athleticism. “Some of the plays that he makes down the field, tracking the football, blitzing the quarterback, batting balls down or whatever it is, he’s still got all the tools that you would want at a corner. I remember watching him when he was in college, doing all the stuff he did, and just tracking his career. He has been an incredible player for a long time and is still doing it at a high level.”

Against Buffalo last week, Ramsey recorded his first interception of the season as the Dolphins look reenergized by the return of Tua Tagovailoa. With two of the more established passers in the NFL set to duel, it will be very interesting how Stafford and Sean McVay counter the problems created by Ramsey, especially if they need to put up points in a hurry.