Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike McCarthy said Monday that cornerback Jalen Ramsey will be activated from the physically unable to perform list.
The move comes as the team prepares for its third preseason contest against the Buffalo Bills. Ramsey has dealt with a knee issue that limited him through the offseason and early portions of training camp.
McCarthy told reporters, including Mike DeFabo of The Athletic, that Ramsey will be activated from the physically unable to perform list. The decision opens the door for the veteran defensive back to be available when the regular season begins.
Ramsey, an eight-time Pro Bowl selection, now has a clearer path toward playing in the season opener against the Atlanta Falcons. The Steelers have been careful with his recovery timeline, but the activation signals meaningful progress.
Fellow cornerback Joey Porter Jr. remains on the PUP list for the time being. With both Ramsey and Porter sidelined earlier, the team has relied on Asante Samuel Jr. and free-agent addition Jamel Dean at the top of the depth chart at the position.
Pittsburgh acquired Ramsey last summer in a significant trade with the Miami Dolphins. The Steelers sent safety Minkah Fitzpatrick and a 2027 fifth-round draft pick to Miami in exchange for Ramsey, tight end Jonnu Smith and a 2027 seventh-round selection.
In his first season with the Steelers, Ramsey started all 17 regular-season games. He earned another Pro Bowl nod, his fifth in the past six years, and recorded 88 combined tackles to match a career high.
The veteran has appeared in every game in three of the past four seasons, underscoring his durability when healthy. Defensive coordinator Teryl Austin used him in a versatile role that allowed the unit to mix coverages and alignments.
Last season the Steelers ranked 17th in points allowed per game. The defense gave up the seventh-most yards per game overall, and the unit struggled in a wild-card playoff loss to the Houston Texans.
In that postseason game, the Texans accumulated 408 yards of offense. Houston also scored two defensive touchdowns in a 30-6 victory that ended Pittsburgh’s season.
The activation of Ramsey provides a boost as the team works to improve its secondary. His presence alongside the existing cornerbacks could help stabilize a group that faced challenges a year ago.
Coaches have emphasized the importance of getting key veterans healthy before the regular season. Ramsey’s return to full participation would give the defense more flexibility in both man and zone schemes.
Practice sessions in the coming days will offer further insight into how quickly he can ramp up his workload. The Steelers still have time before the final preseason game to evaluate his readiness.
Porter’s continued stay on the PUP list means the cornerback rotation will remain fluid for now. Samuel and Dean have taken the bulk of the snaps with the starters during recent practices.
Fans and analysts will watch closely to see how Ramsey’s status affects the final roster decisions. The organization views the eight-time Pro Bowler as a cornerstone piece of the secondary after investing heavily to bring him to Pittsburgh.
With the regular season approaching, the positive update on Ramsey stands as one of the more encouraging developments of training camp so far. The coaching staff will continue to monitor his progress in the days ahead.
