Jacksonville Jaguars vs Green Bay Packers: 5 players to watch
By Luke Sims
2) Jalen Ramsey, cornerback
The Jacksonville Jaguars secondary will be without Aaron Colvin (four game suspension) so there will be increased pressure on rookie Jalen Ramsey in his regular season debut. He’ll still have Prince Amukamara and Davon House in the backfield with him, but the season opener will be a great opportunity to see how Ramsey performs with increased pressure on him.
A pressure cooker like an Aaron Rodgers-led aerial assault is a crucible for any defensive back. How Ramsey reacts will be widely watched and discussed. He was the fifth overall pick in 2016 and needs to show he is worthy of the playing time the Jags will undoubtedly give him through the season.
Ramsey was a steal at fifth overall and there’s no doubt he has the talent to play at the NFL level. But can he step up in game situations again and again when he is targeted by one of the best passers in the modern NFL?
It will also be curious to see how often Rodgers chooses to attack Ramsey rather than former Packer House or former first rounder Amukamara. The Jags’ secondary is more stocked with talent than it has been in any recent year and Ramsey is the only unknown right now. Rodgers could show that Ramsey is a chink in the Jags’ armor or he could come through as a reliable defender.
No matter how Ramsey plays, everything he does will be analyzed. Hopefully he comes out ahead in an incredibly difficult situation.
Next: Jags fans finally get to see 2015's top pick