EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – Jalen Ramsey's NFL debut is on hold.
Ramsey, the No. 5 overall selection in the 2016 NFL Draft, will be held out of the Jaguars' 2016 preseason opener for precautionary reasons. The team announced Ramsey's absence an hour and a half before kickoff of the Jaguars' game against the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium Thursday night.
Ramsey, a cornerback, missed most of the team's 2016 offseason program because of a small meniscus tear. He had worked full throughout the first week and a half of training camp, participating in every practice.
Other Jaguars held out of the preseason opener: offensive tackle Kelvin Beachum (knee), safety Tashaun Gipson, wide receiver Shaq Evans (lower leg), defensive tackle Sheldon Day (back), wide receiver Rashad Lawrence, center Brandon Linder (groin), running back Jonas Gray, offensive tackle Josh Wells (thumb),offensive lineman Kadeem Edwards, offensive lineman Luke Bowanko and defensive end Jonathan Woodard.
Beachum has missed practice for much of the last week while the team remains cautious with his return from a torn anterior cruciate ligament sustained with Pittsburgh in Week 6 of last season. Gipson, the team's starting free safety, also was held out for precautionary reasons.