Miami Dolphins cornerback Jalen Ramsey hasn’t been ruled out for Sunday against the Jacksonville Jaguars, but it would be quite a surprise if he plays. After missing back-to-back practices, it appears that second-year cornerback Ethan Bonner is set to fill his shoes in starting lineup for the Week 1 opener.
“It’s exciting,” Bonner told reporters Thursday, via Adam Beasley of Pro Football Network. “Any opportunity I have to get out there, I’m going to try to take advantage of it. So yeah, I’m definitely excited about it.
“I’m gonna be prepared to do whatever I’m asked. If that’s to go out there and start, I’ll be ready to go out there and execute.”
Bonner, 24, spent the majority of his rookie year in 2023 on the Dolphins’ practice squad after signing as an undrafted free agent. The cornerback was elevated to the active roster in December and appeared in two games, but the majority of his time was spent on special teams.
“You wouldn’t be here, and we wouldn’t even think about putting you on defense if we didn’t think you could play,” Dolphins defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver said Thursday. “So regardless of who steps out there – I don’t care who starts, I want to know who finishes. I’ve said that before and I think all those guys can finish.”
His ascension to potentially start Sunday comes at the end of a strong offseason for the second-year cornerback.
“Bonner probably has had like the craziest jump from I think any player from last year, in my opinion,” Dolphins receiver Jaylen Waddle told reporters in July. “He just seems like a totally different player out there.”
In preseason, Bonner was credited with allowing four receptions on eight targets for 70 yards.
