On precipice of Steelers debut, Jalen Ramsey embraces versatile role

For his first game with the Pittsburgh Steelers, expect Jalen Ramsey to line up at outside cornerback, in the slot/nickel, back at free safety and in the box over the course of Sunday’s meeting with the New York Jets.

To Ramsey, that is one part each fun and challenging.

“Obviously, it would be easier to just, I guess, (play on the outside and) lock on to one specific (wide receiver) and take a guy out of the game,” Ramsey said after Friday’s practice at UPMC Rooney Sports Complex. “But I embrace any type of challenges that (coaches) want throw at me. I take a lot of pride in being able to be a versatile guy for the defense and the secondary. So, whatever they need.”

A three-time first-team AP NFL All-Pro who was acquired in a blockbuster June 30 trade from the Miami Dolphins, Ramsey has in the past lined up at varied spots on defenses with Miami, the Los Angeles Rams and Jacksonville Jaguars.

But if the practice fields at Saint Vincent are any indication, the Steelers will deploy him at as many positions as ever. That in part is because when he was acquired the roster already had a pair of starting-caliber outside corners in Joey Porter Jr. and Darius Slay.

Along with Ramsey, the trio forms quite the alpha positional group. Each has been a “shutdown” No. 1 corner for a team at some point in his career. And each has embraced a daily healthy competition with each other on the practice fields.

“It’s good, just the competitive nature of the game of football and what we do as professional athletes,” Ramsey said, “keeping that and keeping some fun within what we do. It’s very serious, obviously, and we take it very seriously. But trying to still have some fun, and yeah, always, definitely always compete for sure.”