Dolphins activate CB Jalen Ramsey off of injured reserve ahead of Patriots game

Jalen Ramsey‘s debut in the Dolphins secondary was delayed for weeks, but the All Pro cornerback finally will have his moment in front of the home fans.

At least. that seems to be the plan. The Dolphins promoted Ramsey from injured reserve to the active roster, Saturday, roughly three months after he injured his knee to open training camp. Miami had traded for Ramsey in the off season, so he has yet to play a down in a Dolphins uniform.

However, Jalen Ramsey still is listed as questionable for the Dolphins home game against the Patriots. Miami coach Mike McDaniel mentioned both Ramsey and fellow cornerback Xavien Howard, Friday, when going over the possibility of them playing.

“With those two individuals, I have a very good working relationship with them and we communicate very well,” McDaniel said. “So they both know what they mean to the team and what their desire to play, if they put themselves in harm’s way, what it can do to the team … and that’s an earned right because they’re not just telling me, they’ve shown me they know how to prepare.

“They know what it’s like to feel right and they know that we have guys that we’ve really depended on all year, fortunately, that are able to make plays and orchestrate the defense if they’re unable to. Obviously, we’d love to have them both. I’m prepared for either scenario for both players and I really don’t have a clue if they’re going to play or not. Which is fun, right?”

Ramsey cautioned his fans that he wasn’t going to hurry back to the field before his left knee is ready to do so. He has a big fan base in Florida. He starred at Florida State and was a first-round pick of the Jaguars.

“I have to go through a whole process to feel GREAT enough to play,” Ramsey posted on social media. “I won’t play if I feel any less than GREAT.”

But maybe he was hinting at his return when Ramsey posted this Saturday.

“Everybody ain’t him, I’m the one & only” @Wale pic.twitter.com/vIEyJeTHRp

— Jalen Ramsey (@jalenramsey) October 28, 2023

Dolphins traded with Rams to land Jalen Ramsey

The Dolphins traded with the Rams to secure Ramsey, a six-time Pro Bowler. Miami sent a third-round draft pick along with tight end Hunter Long to put Ramsey in a Dolphins uniform. Obviously, they were hopeful that Ramsey could be of immediate help for their secondary. But he tore cartilage in his left knee on the second day of training camp as he was covering Tyreek Hill.

He had surgery in August and Miami placed him on injured reserve before the season opened. The initial prognosis was that Ramsey would be able to play by December. Obviously, he’s significantly ahead of schedule. Ramsey returned to practice in mid-October and the Dolphins had a three-week window to place him on the active roster.

To make room for Ramsey, the Dolphins released cornerback Parry Nickerson.

Meanwhile, McDaniel said he expects Tyreek Hill to play against the Patriots. His star receiver missed practice, Wednesday, with a hip injury. McDaniel said Hill had a “phenomenal” practice, Thursday.

Miami is hoping for a bounce back after losing to the Eagles on the road last Sunday night. The Patriots picked up their second win of the season last Sunday with an upset of the Bills.