Will he or won't he? Will they or won't they? Those are the two prevailing questions surrounding cornerback Jalen Ramsey and the Jacksonville Jaguars, in a saga that seemingly takes a new turn every day following the All-Pro requesting a trade in Week 3.
Since opting to take the field against the Tennessee Titans following said request, Ramsey has fallen ill with the flu, returned to the team facility one day later with back and hamstring issues that required treatment, and then left for Nashville due to the birth of his second child. All of that transpired in a span of just three days over the course of this past week. Initially, his trek home to Tennessee was tagged as an indefinite absence, but it's now been discovered Ramsey returned to catch the team charter to Denver as the Jaguars ready to face the Broncos.
His trade demand is still very much in play, but it doesn't appear he will be himself on Sunday. Although Ramsey made the trip to Mile High, the team has officially ruled him out of the contest.
Jalen Ramsey is inactive today against the Broncos.
— #DUUUVAL (@Jaguars) September 29, 2019
Full list of inactives ⤵ pic.twitter.com/Kwx5ekeWkF
Many view this as a leveraging tactic, but Ramsey's agent insists he notified the club of tightness in his back following the Week 3 battle with the Titans. Even if that is true, however, the timing of his absences -- birth of his child notwithstanding -- does fuel the narrative of a supposed standoff between him and the team. Ramsey has made it clear he still wants to be traded and notes once two sides lack respect for each other, the relationship is over. That's an allusion to his fractured relationship with team exec Tom Coughlin and likely head coach Doug Marrone following a sideline altercation earlier this season, but owner Shad Khan isn't so apt to let Ramsey walk.
According to CBS Sports NFL Insider Jason La Canfora, Khan has turned down offers that have included two first-round picks and -- at least for now -- plans to keep Ramsey right where he is.
How this ends is anyone's guess, but there's time for it to unfold with the NFL trade deadline not arriving until Oct. 29. It's safe to say that between now and then, we can all expect more twists and turns to this story.
Time will tell what happens in the days and weeks to come.