MIAMI GARDENS — The chances that the Miami Dolphins will have Pro Bowl cornerback Jalen Ramsey available for Sunday’s opener against Jacksonville may have increased Friday with a double dose of positive news.

Ramsey received a three-year extension paying him an average of $24.1 million annually, which makes him the highest-paid cornerback in NFL history. The package totals $72.3 million and includes $55.3 million guaranteed, NFL Network reported.

Ramsey was back at practice Friday, shortly after the extension was revealed, raising some to wonder if the two developments were related. But Ramsey said the extension actually had been agreed upon a few days prior and that he requested the club hold off on announcing the news until his hamstring healed enough for him to practice.

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“I felt it was the right thing to do, you know what I’m saying?” Ramsey said. “I’ve been out for a little while, just a little hamstring injury. It’s tough because it’s my first time having this type of injury.”

Ramsey officially is listed as questionable on the NFL Injury Report that came out Friday afternoon. He said it would be a game-day decision whether to suit up against the Jaguars, one of his former teams. Ethan Bonner likely would start if Ramsey cannot.

Because of the Dolphins’ schedule, it’s not as simple as whether the injury is healed. The Dolphins face a quick turnaround by having to host the Buffalo Bills on Thursday night. Ramsey isn’t the only Miami defender who might be on a snap count even if he plays; linebacker Jaelan Phillips, returning from an Achilles injury, also will be utilized with both games in mind.

“That’s a big key to this whole situation,” Ramsey said.

Ramsey stretched with teammates indoors Friday before the team headed outside, where defensive backs did light individual work in the portion of practice open to reporters.

“I always think I look pretty sharp,” Ramsey said. “If I put myself on that field, I’m going to try to be able to do as well as I can for the team.”

Ramsey said even though hamstring injuries are new to him, he isn’t worrying about aggravating it. He’s leaving that up to the trainers.

“That’s part of the issue, is I don’t think about that and I always do have that confidence,” he said. “I think y’all know me well enough by now that my confidence is through the roof. So yeah, that’s part of the back and forth a little bit. When I step out there, I’m on go. I’m on 100 percent and sometimes that might not be the smartest thing for me and for the team.”

The Dolphins’ initial injury report Wednesday revealed the nature of Ramsey’s injury. It had kept him out for several weeks.

The timing of his return raised speculation it was connected to his contract — in other words, that he may have been “holding in,” a tactic used by Tua Tagovailoa, Christian Wilkins and Xavien Howard in recent seasons to nudge the Dolphins to negotiate.

What can’t be a coincidence is that Ramsey’s average of $24.1 million makes him the highest-paid cornerback by the slimmest of margins. Earlier this week, Denver cornerback Patrick Surtain Jr. — son of the former Dolphins cornerback — became the highest-paid corner at $24 million based on his four-year, $96 million extension.

Being No. 1 on the list is important to Ramsey.

“It’s always important to feel value, first of all, and get paid for all your hard work and dedication and sacrifices and everything that you put into an organization,” he said.

The Dolphins sent a third-round pick and tight end Hunter Long to the Los Angeles Rams in March 2023 for Ramsey. They then gave him a $55 million deal over three seasons.

As for other questions about what the extension means to the organization:

Where does this leave the Dolphins salary-cap wise?

Too early to say. The Dolphins had $6.7 million in cap space before the Ramsey deal, according to overthecap.com. That ranked 22nd in the NFL.

A bigger concern is that the Dolphins were 30th in cap space for 2025, standing at $26 million over the cap. But it’s too early to stress about that, especially given how often the Dolphins move money around to create space.

Who’s next in line to get paid?

Easy. Safety Jevon Holland, who would become a free agent after this season if the sides can’t agree to a deal. It’s not known what Holland is expecting. What is obvious is that if he makes the Pro Bowl for the first time, his asking price is certain to go up.

After Holland, next in line will be linebacker Jaelan Phillips, whose fifth-year option was exercised by the club. It will run through 2025.

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Dolphins players are cashing in

Five Dolphins who rank in the top 10 at their positions in terms of annual salary, according to overthecap.com:

• Tua Tagovailoa, fourth among QBs, $53.1 million

• Tyreek Hill, fifth at WR, $30M

• Jaylen Waddle, seventh at WR, $28.2M

• Bradley Chubb, 10th at edge rusher, $22M

• Jalen Ramsey, first at CB, $24.1M

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Miami Dolphins' Jalen Ramsey is questionable for opener with hamstring