The Pittsburgh Steelers are about to get a major piece of their defense back.
Head coach Mike McCarthy said ahead of a recent practice that Jalen Ramsey is being activated off the Physically Unable to Perform list after missing all of training camp and the preseason so far with a knee injury suffered earlier in the offseason. Ramsey will return to practice once he’s activated, and McCarthy noted there will be multiple padded practices before the Steelers face the Buffalo Bills in their final preseason game.
His exact path back to game action still isn’t clear, and it’s unlikely he plays in the preseason finale. Even so, getting Ramsey back on the field is a significant development for Pittsburgh at this stage of camp.
The Steelers have leaned on other options while Ramsey has been sidelined. Brandin Echols has handled the slot corner role, while an injury opened the door for second-year undrafted free agent Doneiko Slaughter to see meaningful first-team reps. That stretch gave Slaughter valuable experience, but Ramsey brings a different level of impact in the slot and in space.
He also brings weight beyond coverage snaps. Ramsey is a Super Bowl winner, a multiple-time All-Pro, and a veteran voice in the locker room. For a Steelers defense trying to take another step, that kind of presence matters.
Ramsey made the Pro Bowl in his first season with the Steelers despite what the article describes as a flawed defensive structure, a coaching staff on the way out and a midseason position change. This year, defensive coordinator Patrick Graham is expected to put him in a clearer role, using him primarily as a nickel corner to make the most of what he still does at an elite level.
That setup could help the Steelers push toward a top-15 finish, or better, in passing defense and overall team defense this season.
In Other News...
Steelers Made A Quick Camp Decision After A Costly Preseason Miss
The Steelers moved quickly after a rough showing in preseason, releasing kicker Laith Marjan in the wake of a missed field goal against the Jets. Marjan had joined Pittsburgh as an undrafted free agent and was never really in the mix to win the starting job, but the inconsistency showed up enough for the team to make an early camp adjustment.
Laith Marjans departure also clears a roster spot at a time when the Steelers are still sorting through the back end of the roster. Pittsburgh used the opening by hosting three cornerbacks shortly after the move, a sign the front office is still looking to fine-tune a few positions before the preseason decisions start stacking up. [Read more 🡒]
Steelers Secondary Suddenly Has A Joey Porter Jr Problem
The Steelers got a few encouraging signs on the roster front with Max Iheanachor back at practice and Jalen Ramsey activated off the PUP list, but the bigger storyline in the secondary has shifted to Joey Porter Jr. Ramsey has already gone public in support of Porters push for a contract extension, which adds another layer of attention to a negotiation that has become one of the more notable unresolved issues around the team.
Mike McCarthy said the sides are at an impasse, a phrase that usually means the discussion has moved past routine back-and-forth and into a more difficult stretch. With free agency still ahead, Pittsburgh also has the franchise tag available as a possible fallback, which gives the Steelers some leverage but also keeps the situation tense as they try to sort out the future of a key young defender. [Read more 🡒]
Steelers Fans Just Got A Reminder About The Jets New QB
The preseason score line may not mean much in the standings, but it did offer a tidy reminder of what the Jets can look like when their passing game gets rolling early. Geno Smith was sharp from the start against Pittsburgh, hitting all seven throws on the opening drive and finishing with 65 yards through the air while working the ball to Garrett Wilson and Adonai Mitchell.
For Steelers fans, the more meaningful part was the overall feel of the game, one in which New York controlled the night and walked away with a 17-0 win. CBS Sports later singled out Smith as one of the preseasons biggest winners, a label that will only add a little more attention the next time Pittsburgh sees him across the field. [Read more 🡒]