Steelers DB Jalen Ramsey takes a subtle shot at Joey Porter Jr. when describing painful injury that could hamper him on Thursday
Ramsey suffered the injury on the first drive against Cincinnati and played through all 4 quarters — but his comments about suiting up Thursday against Cleveland carry a deeper meaning.
The Pittsburgh Steelers injury report heading into Thursday night’s game against the Cleveland Browns has been dominated by Joey Porter Jr.’s name for the past couple of days. But Jalen Ramsey might be the more important factor for Pittsburgh on the short week, and his response to a painful injury may have carried a message aimed directly at his fellow cornerback.
As ESPN’s Brooke Pryor posted on X, Ramsey was out of a sling and wearing a brace/cast on his wrist during Tuesday’s walkthrough. According to Ramsey via Nick Farabaugh of PennLive, he suffered a broken wrist on the very first drive of the game against the Cincinnati Bengals. He said it was hurting him throughout the game.
The fact that Ramsey played all 4 quarters as a defensive back with a broken wrist is remarkable. When asked if he plans to play Thursday night in Cleveland, his answer inspired confidence and showcased the toughness Pittsburgh has built into its culture.
“I’m going to give everything to try to play,” Ramsey said. “I have to be able to protect it. It’s a real injury, a broken wrist. I really can’t do anything about it. It’s just going to be about seeing if I’m able to protect it and also still be myself in a good enough capacity where I feel like if I go out there, I won’t be letting any of my teammates down.”
Jalen Ramsey 2026 stats
(Through 3 games)
- 17 tackles
- 1 pass breakup
- 1 forced fumble
- 1 TFL
Was Ramsey taking a shot at Joey Porter Jr.?
Read between the lines. “It’s a real injury.” “I won’t be letting any of my teammates down.” If you don’t think those words carry weight given the current situation with Porter, I don’t know what to tell you.
Ramsey has been in Porter’s corner and probably still is. But consider the context. Three weeks into the regular season, Ramsey and the rest of the Steelers are putting their bodies on the line while Porter continues to nurse a “back injury” that has looked a lot more like contractitis than anything else. Porter has been conditioning and ramping up week after week after week, with no end in sight.
Maybe Ramsey is seeing some of the trade rumors swirling around Porter. Maybe he’s realizing that the divide between what he’s willing to sacrifice and what Porter is willing to sacrifice is growing wider by the day. Either way, the language felt deliberate.
What happens Thursday night?
The bottom line is Jalen Ramsey has a broken wrist, and the Steelers will await word on his availability for Thursday night against the Browns. He’s made it clear he wants to be out there. That kind of commitment matters in a locker room, especially when another high-profile player at the same position has been notably absent from the field despite the team needing him.
Ramsey’s toughness is not in question. His willingness to play through a legitimate injury stands in contrast to the Porter situation, whether he intended it to or not.
