For the second straight year, the Jacksonville Jaguars' first-round pick has suffered a knee injury before the start of the season. Last year, No. 3 overall pick Dante Fowler Jr. tore his ACL on the first day of mini-camp. He missed his entire rookie season. The Jags wound up finishing the season with a record that secured them the No. 5 overall pick in the 2016 draft, where they selected former Florida State defensive back Jalen Ramsey.
Ramsey injured his knee this week and the injury is being characterized as a small meniscus tear.
#Jaguars 1st-round pick Jalen Ramsey has suffered a knee injury, source said. Characterized now as a small meniscus tear. 2nd opinion coming
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) May 19, 2016
#Jaguars DB Jalen Ramsey's 2nd opinion on his knee is early next week. If all goes well, could be back by the start of camp. That's the hope
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) May 19, 2016
The Jaguars then confirmed the injury and the fact that Ramsey will get a second opinion next week via their official Twitter account:
Statement on Jalen Ramsey. pic.twitter.com/9VIzQiG1Y3
— Jacksonville Jaguars (@Jaguars) May 19, 2016
There's no good way to spin this for the Jags. It's a major blow. Ramsey was set to be a major part of Jacksonville's defensive makeover, slotting in as the most versatile piece of their defensive backfield. Even if he does return by the start of training camp, as Rapoport speculates that he could, he'll have missed all of Jacksonville's offseason program prior to that point. That's valuable practice time that you can't make up for simply by watching and/or rehabbing.
That Ramsey's knee injury came even after the Jags scaled back their offseason program following last year's injury to Fowler is a cruel twist. Jags GM Dave Caldwell told Pro Football Talk two weeks ago that he regretted not scaling it back last season before Fowler tore his knee, and that this year would be different.
"I think we just peeled back a little bit and said, 'Let's focus on the things that can help these guys a couple years down the road,'" Caldwell said. "In terms of nutrition, stretching, how to prepare, how to hydrate especially here in Jacksonville and give them a little bit of time in the playbook and then bring them along smoothly."
As CBSSports.com contributor Chris Trapasso pointed out, which knee Ramsey injured is also a critical distinction here. Ramsey had microfracture surgery on his right knee when he was in high school. As Jacksonville's confirmation of the original report states, that's the same knee he just tore. The Jags and Ramsey now both certainly have to hope that this isn't a sign of recurring, serious issues to come.
