Dolphins’ Jalen Ramsey is now a full year removed from knee injury and ready to thrive in new defense

MIAMI GARDENS — It’s nearly a year to the day that all breath at Miami Dolphins facilities was simultaneously held when star cornerback Jalen Ramsey injured his knee in the team’s second training camp practice of 2023 .

The Dolphins’ prized offseason acquisition suddenly had his first season with his new team in jeopardy.

But on a repaired meniscus, Ramsey made an ahead-of-schedule return midway through last fall, looked close to his normal self and earned a seventh Pro Bowl selection off his 10 games played.

Ramsey started his second training camp with the Dolphins on Wednesday, as the team held its first practice , and he could be primed to take his game to another level than what was seen in his first season in Miami.

“Anytime I step on the field, I feel like I’m fully healthy,” Ramsey said after Day 1 of drills. “Otherwise, I wouldn’t step on the football field. Playing the game of football, you’re never at 100 percent. That’s not a realistic thing to even say.

“But I like a 75 percent Jalen over 90 percent of the guys in the league. So, I’ll take whatever I can get, but at this moment, I feel pretty good.”

If 75 percent was how Ramsey felt in his return from the rapid knee rehab last season, it still was enough for teams to make sure to avoid him. When the Las Vegas Raiders threw his way, he intercepted two passes, including the game-sealing play in the end zone. In a December game against the New York Jets, he shut down standout wide receiver Garrett Wilson in a shutout victory.

But even from that Ramsey, there’s still more to see from him at 29 a full year removed from the scary injury.

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“From a physical standpoint, it is a big jump the following year just generally,” Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel said at the conclusion of minicamp last month. “Now, Jalen Ramsey is an exception as an athlete, so you’re not really looking at it like it’s a big jump for him necessarily from an athleticism standpoint. I’m sure deep down in the subconscious the more reps that you have successfully executing without injury, the more inherent confidence or maybe conviction you can play with.

“He has come back this year really, really strong.”

With a healthy Ramsey, he’ll also have a defensive coordinator willing to use him as an “ultimate chess piece,” as Anthony Weaver called him in his introductory press conference this offseason.

That could mean a number of different things, but expect Ramsey to not just stay on one side of the field. He could shadow an opponent’s top receiving threat, slide into the slot, maybe come in on a blitz.

For Ramsey, though, after he was displeased with previous defensive coordinator Vic Fangio’s usage of him, actions will speak louder than words.

Miami Dolphins open training camp with first practice | PHOTOS

“Of course it’s exciting. I’ve heard that a few times in my career, though, and it’s really only happened a couple of times,” Ramsey said. “I guess I’ll let everything unfold, and whatever’s best for the defense, at the end of the day, I hope is what position I’ll be in.”

What is it that it does for Ramsey to be in that flexible role?

“It allows me to showcase all of my skill set, all of my abilities,” he said. “It allows teams not to be able to dictate where I am. It allows me to be more involved in the game and the game plan, not get bored out there on the field. I think it opens up a lot of plays and opportunities for other people, as well, be versatile and do different things.”

His early impressions of Weaver are positive.

“It’s different than the defenses I’ve played in the past years, which is a good thing, going to be a really good thing,” Ramsey said.

With quarterback Tua Tagovailoa going through contract negotiations for an extension , Ramsey, this offseason, posted on social media a golf scorecard on which he wrote “Pay Tua!” He elaborated Wednesday on his thoughts on extension talks.

“That’s his business. I don’t really want to get into another man’s business and into his pockets. They got to handle it however he sees fit. Obviously, I love having Tua as a teammate. I love having him as the leader of this team, quarterback of this team.”