PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – For most of last week Steelers safety Jalen Ramsey could only warmup at practice due a hamstring injury suffered against Minnesota, but Friday he returned and on Sunday was turning heads of not just the fans, and Browns offensive linemen, but teammates and coaches.
Most notably impressed, the most accomplished of anyone in that locker room, Aaron Rodgers.
“What he did this week getting ready to play, I've been around the game a long time, and I've seen a lot of guys in a situation where you got a Sunday/Thursday, skip both games,” Rodgers said. “Where maybe they're 85 percent, but they want to be 100 percent, because I think there's a fear of failure almost that can paralyze them where if I don't play my best game, then what does that say about me if I'm not 100 percent?”
“I think some guys are scared to go out there and play, but for Jalen to go out there with everything he's accomplished in this league, I just can't
say enough about the level of respect I have for him.”
Not only did he play, but had a major impact on what happened Sunday afternoon. Ramsey had his first ever multi-sack game, two tackles for loss, two quarterback hurries as part of six tackles and did so playing different positions due to brief injuries.
“I cannot say enough about Jalen Ramsey, guys”, said head coach Mike Tomlin. “This guy plays outside corner. He plays nickel. He plays free safety. He is exactly what we hoped he would be, and certainly he was significant today.”
“We don’t care where it comes from,” said defensive captain Cam Heyward about the two sacks. “We are concerned with winning. When you got a guy like Jalen, there isn’t anything he can’t do on a field. We are very lucky to have a guy like that.”
One of the sacks even prevented a touchdown, not that he knew it immediately.
“A guy like that can do everything-cover, blitz and he’s getting back there fast too,” said safety Juan Thornhill. “If you really watch the play that he got one of his sacks he saved me because I was guarding Jerry Jeudy, I’m thinking he’s going to run one route and he ran something else. I was beat. I’ll be honest, I was beat and he got back there fast.”
“I appreciate you Jalen for getting back there, you saved me.”
“He had, what, two sacks and pass break-ups and tackles,” Rodgers said. “If there was any question about the type of person that he is -- take away the incredible player -- but the person and teammate, I think he just showed all of us the kind of guy that he is by going out there and playing today.”
“Oh, that guy is a dog,” said linebacker Nick Herbig, who also had two sacks Sunday against Cleveland. “I grew up watching him when he was at Florida State. He's been doing it since I've been watching football. Just seeing that in person, seeing how he goes about his business day in and day out on and off the field, that guy is a true professional, true vet. He's a leader, inspiration to a lot of guys, and he's great for us.”
TJ Watt was straight to the point about Ramsey.
“He’s a hell of an asset to us,” Watt said. “I’m just glad he’s a part of this team.”
Ramsey has done a lot of things in his career. He’s won a Super Bowl. He had back-to-back games where he combined for nine passes defensed. He had a span of 22 passes defensed over 10 games. A seven-time Pro Bowler, he was runner-up for Defensive Rookie of the Year. He’s an two-interception games, Sunday against the Browns, he had his first two-sack game and recognized who else was on the field.
“I’m going to tell my kids about this,” Ramsey said. “I played in a game with TJ Watt and Myles Garrett and I had two sacks. That’s crazy, huh.”
What Ramsey does, at this high a level, is crazy.