Steelers activate Jalen Ramsey off PUP list
The Pittsburgh Steelers activated cornerback Jalen Ramsey from the physically unable to perform list ahead of their third preseason game against the Buffalo Bills, according to reports. Ramsey had been placed on the PUP list after suffering a knee injury during minicamp, but the move suggests he is on track to be available for the regular-season opener.
Ramsey, an eight-time Pro Bowler, will now have the chance to suit up when the Steelers face the Atlanta Falcons in Week 1. Fellow cornerback Joey Porter Jr. remains on the PUP list, leaving Asante Samuel Jr. and free-agent acquisition Jamel Dean as the starters on the depth chart while both Ramsey and Porter are sidelined.
Pittsburgh acquired Ramsey from the Miami Dolphins last offseason in a trade that sent safety Minkah Fitzpatrick and a 2027 fifth-round pick to Miami in exchange for Ramsey, tight end Jonnu Smith, and a 2027 seventh-round pick. In his first season with the Steelers, Ramsey started all 17 games, earned his fifth Pro Bowl selection in the past six years, and matched a career high with 88 combined tackles. He has played every game in three of the past four years.
The Steelers' defense struggled at times last season, finishing 17th in points allowed per game and permitting the seventh-most yards per game. In the first round of the 2025 playoffs, the Houston Texans piled up 408 yards in a 30-6 defeat for Pittsburgh. This offseason, the team brought in Patrick Graham as defensive coordinator, who most recently held the same role with the Las Vegas Raiders. Graham will call plays from the coaches' box, an adjustment from previous Pittsburgh coordinators. He credited his assistant coaches, saying, "I would say me being in the box is about being comfortable for me, but it's also a credit to the assistant coaches that can convey the message for me and then rally the guys when we need to rally them."
Ramsey involved in altercation with Ja'Marr Chase
A separate report describes an incident involving Ramsey and Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase during a joint practice. According to that report, Ramsey and Chase had been jawing at each other throughout the day, with tensions escalating in the fourth quarter on back-to-back plays. After both were flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct, Ramsey was seen grabbing Chase's helmet and throwing a punch on the following play.
The report notes that this incident comes less than a week after Commanders defensive tackle DaRon Bland was suspended for throwing a punch at Amon-Ra St. Brown, and it suggests that a one-game suspension for Ramsey would not be surprising. The Steelers have not commented on the incident, and it remains unclear whether the league will take disciplinary action.
Other NFL notes
In other league news, the Saints signed kicker Daniel Carlson, formerly of the Raiders. Carlson, who was the 10th-most accurate kicker in NFL history, converted 22-of-27 field goal attempts last season, with three misses from beyond 50 yards. He is expected to take over as the Saints' starting kicker.
NFL insider Jordan Schultz reports that the Browns plan to name Deshaun Watson as their starter for Week 1 against the Jaguars. Watson completed 16-of-27 passes for no touchdowns and one interception in two preseason appearances, and he is in the final year of a five-year, $230 million fully guaranteed contract.
Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald said that safety Bud Clark will miss "multiple months" after suffering a broken ankle in Sunday's preseason game against the Titans. Clark was selected 64th overall in this year's draft. In that same game, Titans quarterback Cam Ward completed 8-of-12 passes for 69 yards, and Seahawks tight end Elijah Arroyo caught 2-of-3 targets for 50 yards and one touchdown.
ESPN's Adam Schefter reports that Raiders running back Ashton Jeanty "is believed to have sprained his ankle," and it is not considered a long-term injury. The Athletic's Nate Atkins reports that the Rams are expanding tight end Terrance Ferguson's route tree and committing to three-tight-end sets.