Dolphins’ Williams addresses move to safety. And Ramsey, ex-Chargers doc go back and forth

Dolphins defensive back Trill Williams has played only 19 snaps in two NFL seasons, but he has attracted high interest on social media because of the mystery of what he could become.

Fans on X (formerly Twitter) ask about Williams as much as any player, aside from the team’s stars and quarterbacks.

They’re curious to see what the talented defensive back who went undrafted out of Syracuse can become after appearing in just one game as an undrafted rookie and missing his second season with a torn ACL sustained last Aug. 15.

Now back healthy, Williams is learning the nuances of playing safety, a position he hasn’t played since occasional work there at Syracuse.

“I was mostly at nickel at Syracuse,” Williams said Wednesday after the second of two joint practices with the Atlanta Falcons. “Being able to transition from nickel to safety is not that big of a change. I’m rangy and I can play those positions. Being able to play that position is a lot easier because I’ve had experience doing it.”

The biggest adjustment in moving from cornerback to safety? “I was an aggressive corner. Now I’ve got to tone down my aggression. Last year, the biggest thing I did and one of the big advantages I had over a lot of receivers was my press. Not being able to do that at safety is all right. I’ll adjust to it.”

Williams said he has been playing some snaps at cornerback during training camp but is working primarily at safety. What was his reaction when the Dolphins told him about the position switch?

“Normal day in the office,” he said. “I don’t mind where ever they want to put me.”

Williams was able to ditch the red non-contact jersey this week for the first time during training camp began and participated in team drills over the past two days.

“I’ve been out for almost a year,” he said. “Feeling good again.”

Safeties coach Joe Kasper said Williams’ skill set is well suited to safety (as well as corner) and that versatility could only help his chances of making the roster.

“You want a player that’s versatile that you can move anywhere and I’m that kind of player,” he said. “Wherever they want to put me and move me, hopefully it will help my chances of making the team. I want to be a starter, so that’s in my mind.”

For now, he’s competing for a backup cornerback job and with Elijah Campbell (who has had a solid camp) for the No. 4 safety job.

He said he hasn’t been told if he’s playing in Friday’s preseason opener against visiting Atlanta (7 p.m., CBS-4), but that would be a surprise because he wasn’t cleared for contact until this week.

Williams smiled when asked about fan interest in him. He’s very much aware.

“it definitely kept me motivated through the recovery stages,” he said. “I see some stuff on Twitter. Everybody wishing me great health and wanting me to return and I use that as fire and motivation to come back and give the people what they want. I’m excited about this year. Hopefully I can deliver on that.”

Williams originally signed with the Saints after going undrafted in 2021 but failed his physical, was released and was immediately picked up by the Dolphins.

RAMSEY/CHAO QUIBBLE

Like NBA star Kevin Durant, Dolphins cornerback Jalen Ramsey isn’t reluctant to respond when he takes issue with something posted about him on social media.

That resulted in an unusual back and forth this week between Ramsey and former Chargers team doctor David Chao, who has become perhaps the most prominent sports doctor on social media, offering input on various players’ injuries.

Chao, on the I Am Athlete podcast, said this in the wake of Ramsey’s meniscus surgery earlier this month:

“I think it’s a tall order for Jalen Ramsey to come back and be Jalen Ramsey.”

That irritated Ramsey, who said on X: “SHUT UP! I done let a couple things slide, but y’all have no clue what’s even going on, just talkin to hear y’all selves talk! Last I checked, I serve the 1 & ONLY God who dictates everything, not all these twitter/“X” doctors who have NEVER seen me in their lives lol. God bless!”

“Chao, whose @ProFootballDoc Twitter account has more than 200,000 followers, saw Ramsey’s response and tweeted: “Not sure how I offended you. Made it clear I haven’t met or examined you and simply state that it will be a tough task. If you come back early and play well, you become an even bigger hero. Let me know how I wronged you & I would be happy to apologize.”

Ramsey responded to that, too: “You speaking on something that you personally have NO CLUE about… so just shut up. As a doctor, you should know that you can’t give even a remotely close explanation of what’s going on without ever seeing me. & no it won’t be a tough task at all actually.”

Chao responded again, saying — among other things — that “maybe the reporting is inaccurate but my analysis from afar is based on true meniscus repair.”

Asked about the exchange between Ramsey and Chao, Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel said: “I would hesitate to boldly tell Jalen Ramsey what he’s going to be. I don’t think that’s in his mind at all. In my profession or my job, I don’t have the time to look at X. You know, I have bigger fish to fry. But we’re not even worried about what it looks like at the end.”

Ramsey reportedly could be back as early as November. Since the injury, Chao consistently has expressed skepticism about Ramsey being able to return as an effective player this season.

CHUBB GOAL

Dolphins outside linebacker Bradley Chubb, who has 28.5 sacks in 57 NFL games, said his goal this season is 15.

He had 12 as a rookie for Denver, but had one in just four games in 2019, 7.5 in 14 games in 2020, none in seven games in 2021, and eight in 16 games last season (5.5 with Denver, 2.5 with Miami after his midseason acquisition).

“I want to make sure I’m 15 plus, how ever I get there,” he said. “Affecting the quarterback is more important than the number itself. But I want to get to that 15 number.”

Chubb said this defense being run by new Dolphins defensive coordinator Vic Fangio is the exact same that Fangio used in Denver, aside from different verbiage.

Chubb, who played for Fangio as Denver, said: “I like the way he challenges you. He doesn’t say, ‘oh man, you got to do this.’ He does that in a subtle way, that old condescending tone. You go, ‘hold on, how did he mean that?’ [But then] you’re like, ‘all right, I will accept that challenge and show him I can do this and will do this.’

“It’s a good way [of challenging players]. It’s not like bearing down on someone. It’s challenging him in his way. Once you understand that, you are like, ‘ok, you’ve got to step up.’”

Legendary linebacker Lawrence Taylor watched Wednesday’s Dolphins practice, and Chubb noticed. “You want to impress him,” Chubb said.