Steelers Now
PITTSBURGH — Today’s rules don’t allow defenders to intimidate receivers like they once could. Based on how Jalen Ramsey patrolled the secondary against the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday, the Pittsburgh Steelers defensive back must not know — or care — about that.
Playing, as Steelers defensive coordinator Teryl Austin put it, “full-time safety” for the first time, Ramsey made his presence felt. He blasted Indianapolis Colts rookie tight end Tyler Warren deep in his own territory. Later in the matchup, he shellacked Colts wideout Michael Pittman Jr., earning himself a flag for unnecessary roughness.
Austin still liked what he saw from the 10th-year veteran’s physicality.
“I loved (the hits),” Austin said Thursday. “I mean, it’s football. It’s a violent game, and I like the way that he does that. I think the hits were clean. I know he got flagged for one, but when you look at it, he led with his shoulder. He wasn’t doing anything dirty, so we like a physical brand of ball. And I think what happens when you play that type of ball, receivers take note of that, that if you’re gonna be running across the middle of the field, there’s gonna be somebody that might tag you. So it helps us.”
#Steelers DC Teryl Austin on Jalen Ramsey's enforcer-like hits at saftey vs. Colts: "It's a violent game, and I like the way that he does that. … I think what happens when you play that type of ball, receivers take note of that, that if you're gonna be running across the middle… https://t.co/U1I8ajcEIz
— Brendan Howe (@bybrendanhowe) November 6, 2025
Ramsey had cycled through positions in the secondary since he arrived in Pittsburgh. The matchup with the Colts was the first time he’d been stationed on the back end. Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin said on Tuesday that the plan this week is to keep him there, although Chuck Clark will likely return to action after shaking off an illness.
This article originally appeared on Steelers Now: Teryl Austin Shrugs Off Jalen Ramsey’s Penalty vs. Colts: WRs ‘Take Note’
