OBJ excited for chance to tussle with Jags’ Ramsey
EAST RUTHERFORD » Get ready for Batman vs. the Joker on Sunday at MetLife Stadium.
At least that is how Jaguars cornerback Jalen Ramsey is hyping up his looming matchup with Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. Ramsey tweeted as such last week after news broke of Beckham’s record-setting contract extension with New York.
And last month, the 23-year-old reigning All-Pro called out Giants quarterback Eli Manning in an interview with GQ by stating, “I won’t say Eli’s good, I’ll say Odell’s good.”
Beckham said Wednesday that part of his maturation as a player is no longer feeding into trash talk.
Three years ago, a heated rivalry with then-Panthers cornerback Josh Norman featured five personal fouls between the two players, including a helmet-to-helmet hit by Beckham that the NFL deemed intentional and subsequently suspended him for one game.
“I think I learned my lesson,” Beckham said. “But this is probably, if not the best, one of the best corners in the league. There’s no way around it. And this defense that they have, they have six or seven pro-bowlers — maybe more — on their team. They have a very good scheme. They’re probably the defense in the NFL, so we have a very tough challenge ahead of us.”
Beckham said he believes the Cardinals’ Patrick Peterson is the only cornerback on par with Ramsey, who at 6-foot-1, 208 pounds has emerged as one of the rangiest and fastest pass defenders in the NFL.
Although the two have never faced off in a game before, Odell said he and Ramsey have a friendly relationship. They hung out together during the offseason before the season schedules released, ironically chatting about how they would potentially match up.
“I don’t worry about Odell, and certainly I would not comment on another player’s comments,” head coach Pat Shurmur said. “They’re both outstanding players, and there’s gonna be times in the game when they’re up against one another, and that’ll be a fun thing for people to keep track of. But they’re a team that plays zone, too, so it’s going to be about the combinations more than the matchups sometimes.”
It will certainly be a stingy first test for the Giants’ new-look offense under Shurmur. Jacksonville came within one win of reaching the Super Bowl last season, and the Jags’ defense ranked second overall in points and yards allowed.
Beckham did not play in the preseason. He has not appeared in a game since breaking his ankle in Week 5 last October against the Chargers.
Running back Saquon Barkley only played in the first preseason game and recently nursed a mild hamstring strain. But he has practiced fully for more than a week.
“I can’t stop thinking about it,” Beckham said. “I’m at home, I’ll be in the middle of conversation, my mind doesn’t get off this game. It’s been a long time. There was a lot of hard work and preparation just to be able to get back to running and playing again. So I’m excited, I’m real excited about this team and the opportunity we have in front of us.”
Shurmur said tight end Evan Engram has officially cleared concussion protocol, a promising sign for the second-year pro’s chances of playing Sunday. Outside linebacker Olivier Vernon (ankle) did not practice Wednesday.
The first-year head coach hinted at Alex Tanney being the Giants’ Week 1 backup quarterback.
“I’m very fond of a veteran presence backing up Eli,” Shurmur said.