PITTSBURGH -- Steelers defensive back Jalen Ramsey said he broke his right wrist early in last Sunday’s win against the Cincinnati Bengals, but despite the fracture, Ramsey said “of course” he’s going to “try to” play against the Cleveland Browns on Thursday night.
“I got to be able to protect it, obviously,” Ramsey said Tuesday. “[It’s a] broken wrist, so it’s not like I can’t really 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.”
Ramsey, 31, said he suffered the injury on the first series of the Week 3 game. Even so, he still played every defensive snap and finished with eight tackles.
“It was hurting,” Ramsey said of how his wrist felt in-game. He added Tuesday that it felt “OK.”
Listed as a limited participant in each of the practice estimations this week, Ramsey wore a sling on Monday and what appeared to be a cast or brace on Tuesday.
Asked if he would be able to play Thursday, Ramsey declined to give a definitive answer.
“We’ll see,” he said. “That’s all I can give you, I think.”
Ramsey’s undetermined status is just one piece of a Steelers’ secondary that’s in flux. Cornerback Joey Porter Jr. was estimated to be a full participant in each of the Steelers’ walkthroughs this week, marking the first time he has been a full participant since being activated off the physically unable to perform list in late August. Porter was dealing with a back injury amid contentious contract negotiations. The two sides didn’t reach an agreement on an extension before the regular-season deadline, and Porter has been inactive for each of the first three weeks as he continues to ramp up in his conditioning.
Slot cornerback Brandin Echols is also uncertain for Thursday’s game after entering the concussion protocol against the Bengals. He was a limited participant in each of the Steelers’ walkthroughs.
With the injuries and unpredictability in the secondary, the Steelers could turn to practice squad defensive back Doneiko Slaughter, who has been elevated in each of the first three games, to help in the slot. And it could also mean more playing time for rookie Daylen Everette, who initially came in against the Bengals when starting cornerback Jamel Dean left in the first half with injury. Everette played nearly half of the defensive snaps and had a key pass break up on third down. Dean returned in the second half, but Everette ended up playing alongside him and replace Asante Samuel Jr.
“I was very impressed at how he responded because I remember being out as a rookie, you get the little jitters,” Dean said of Everette being thrust into action. “But once he made his play, he kind of settled in. So I was like, OK, I see you. I love it.”
