Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Jalen Ramsey was seen Monday with his right arm in a sling, raising questions about his availability for Thursday night’s AFC North game in Cleveland.
The sighting came less than a day after the Steelers beat the Cincinnati Bengals 30-27 to improve to 2-1. The team has not issued an official diagnosis, practice restriction or game-status designation.
WPXI sports director Jenna Harner reported the development from the locker room.
“Jalen Ramsey was wearing a sling on his right arm when he walked through the locker room this afternoon.”
Ramsey was not listed with an arm or shoulder injury heading into Sunday’s game. He received a rest day Wednesday, then practiced fully Thursday and Friday and carried no injury designation into kickoff.
He played every snap against Cincinnati and finished with eight tackles, according to Steelers Now’s Alan Saunders. That performance pushed his season totals to 17 tackles, one pass breakup and one forced fumble through three games.
Ramsey opened the year with four tackles, a pass breakup and a forced fumble in a 20-13 win over Atlanta. He added five tackles in a 20-3 loss at New England before Sunday’s eight-tackle outing.
The timing is awkward because Pittsburgh has almost no recovery window. The Steelers play the Cleveland Browns on Thursday Night Football at Huntington Bank Field, only four days after the Bengals game.
Cleveland is also 2-1 after a 21-18 home win over Carolina. Every team in the AFC North sits at 2-1 after Week 3.
Sunday’s win was Mike McCarthy’s first division victory as Steelers coach. Aaron Rodgers completed 19 of 34 passes for 292 yards and three touchdowns. Jaylen Warren ran 17 times for 127 yards and added 49 receiving yards, giving him 176 yards from scrimmage.
Chris Boswell’s 33-yard field goal with 2:18 left put Pittsburgh ahead 30-27. Derrick Harmon’s strip-sack of Joe Burrow in the final minute, recovered by Sebastian Joseph-Day, sealed it.
The Steelers defense still had a long afternoon. Burrow went 28 of 37 for 282 yards and three scores. Ja’Marr Chase caught nine passes for 98 yards and a touchdown. Tee Higgins had six catches for 90 yards and another score.
Pittsburgh already entered the Bengals game with other secondary questions. Joey Porter Jr. was limited last week as he worked back into football shape. Jamel Dean dealt with an ankle injury and was listed as questionable.
Ramsey, by contrast, had no designation Sunday. That changed visually Monday.
Saunders noted the broader picture in the secondary.
“He makes five DBs at less than 100% entering a short Week 4.”
Practice reports this week will matter more than usual. The Steelers must decide quickly whether Ramsey can play, how much he can do if he does play, and how to cover snaps if he cannot.
Ramsey, 31, is an eight-time Pro Bowl selection and a three-time Associated Press All-Pro. Pittsburgh acquired him from Miami in 2025 in the trade that sent safety Minkah Fitzpatrick the other way. He started last season at multiple spots in the secondary and is being used again as a versatile piece under first-year defensive coordinator Patrick Graham.
He began training camp on the physically unable to perform list after a knee injury in minicamp that did not require surgery. The team activated him in late August, and he has started all three regular-season games.
A right arm issue on a short week would test that plan.
Until the Steelers put Ramsey on an injury report or offer a medical update, the sling is the only public sign that something is wrong. The team has not said when the problem started, how serious it is, or whether he is in danger of missing Thursday’s game.
