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.
