THOUSAND OAKS — Jalen Ramsey will play against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday for the first time since they traded him to the Rams in the middle of the 2019 season.

If this were another point in his life, the All-Pro cornerback might have said something provocative about the Jaguars and their unfriendly parting.

But not the Ramsey of 2021. Facing Jacksonville is “another game,” he said. His 3½ seasons there were “part of my journey.”

Ramsey was drafted No. 5 overall out of Florida State in 2016 and earned his first All-Pro and Pro Bowl honors in 2017, the year he helped the Jags reach the AFC championship game.

But he fell out with the organization led by executive Tom Coughlin and Coach Doug Marrone.

“I’m grateful for my time there, but I’m here (Los Angeles) now. I’m happy to be here. So, it is what it is. This ain’t really like about me playing Jacksonville,” Ramsey said, noting that most of the Jaguars he played with are gone. “I ain’t really trying to answer no Jacksonville questions or nothing about Jacksonville. It’s not about that.

“I treat every game the same. It don’t mean more to me. It don’t mean less to me.”

With the Rams, who traded two first-round draft picks and a fourth to get Ramsey, he has forged a uniquely versatile role in the defense and earned a five-year, $100 million contract extension before the 2020 season.

Although he said in 2019 that he felt “free” after leaving the Jaguars, Ramsey said Thursday that back then he had no vision of life with a new team like the Rams.

“I had no expectations of what I thought this would be or anything like that,” he said. “And generally, I don’t like to really compare Jacksonville to here just because I’m genuinely grateful for my time there and that whole experience.

“It was a part of my life that I needed, that I appreciated it. I went through things there that make me a better man today, make me appreciate the situation that I’m in today even more – just some things I went through there.”

Ramsey, 27, plays with emotion, and still draws attention with incidents like the 2020 post-game fight with New York Giants wide receiver Golden Tate over a personal matter and unnecessary roughness and taunting penalties in last month’s loss to the Tennessee Titans.

But Ramsey’s maturation is noticeable. He no longer openly criticizes opposing quarterbacks or stokes rivalries with receivers. He is consistently thoughtful in speaking with reporters this season.

There’s no concern about Ramsey’s history with the opponent affecting his play when the Rams (7-4) host the Jaguars (2-9) and rookie quarterback Trevor Lawrence at SoFi Stadium, said first-year Rams defensive coordinator Raheem Morris.

“I’ve watched him develop so much just in my short time here,” Morris said Thursday. “To watch his demeanor on how he was last week going to play a great player like (Green Bay Packers receiver) Davante (Adams), you think he would change and be different and he would be out of control.

“He wasn’t. He was a calm leader and player, and he’s been kind of steady and easy throughout the season. I think some of the different responsibilities allow him to do that, but I think it’s part of his maturity and a lot of credit to him as well.

“Before,” Morris said, “he felt like he had to garnish attention at times. I don’t think he needs to garnish anymore. I think he wants people to stop looking at him and challenge him (with passes) a little bit more, so he can make some more plays and be more part of the game as much as he possibly can.”

Jordan Fuller, the Rams’ second-year safety and defensive signal-caller, credits Ramsey with mentoring him. Which might not have been what he expected.

“I just knew he was a really talented player that talked trash to receivers,” Fuller said. “Getting to know him, how unselfish he is and how he approaches his day-to-day work, you can see why he is the best at the position.

“He’s one of the most selfless people I’ve been around as far as taking care of his teammates, taking care of his guys.”

Ramsey’s guys face his old guys Sunday. If there are hard feelings, he wasn’t showing them.

“I’m grateful for that part of my journey,” Ramsey said. “I’m super blessed and I’m happy to be on this part of my journey too.”

HEALTH DEPARTMENT

Wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr., who injured a hip in the Rams’ loss to the Packers, was listed as questionable for Sunday’s game after returning to “limited” practice Friday.

“I’ll be all right,” Beckham said. “I’ve been through worse.”

Running back Darrell Henderson (thigh), right tackle Rob Havenstein (foot) and cornerback David Long (ill) also were listed as questionable, and third-string running back Buddy Howell (thigh) is out.

For the Jaguars, former Pro Bowl corner Shaquill Griffin (concussion) is out and their leading rusher, James Robinson (heel, knee), is questionable.

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Assuming Beckham plays, it will be his first game at SoFi Stadium since signing with the Rams last month. He did catch two passes for 20 yards there for the Cleveland Browns against the Chargers in October.

“This stadium is obviously one of a kind,” Beckham said. “They say it gets much louder and it’s a little better when it’s Rams fans there.”

FOR CHARITY

Thirty-four Rams players and three Rams coaches will be among hundreds in the NFL wearing individually designed shoes on Sunday as part of the league’s annual “My Cause My Cleats” campaign to draw attention to charities.

Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald was breaking in bright yellow and light-blue cleats during practice Friday that advertise his AD99 Solutions Foundation, which aims to help underprivileged kids in his native Pittsburgh.

“Just trying to help these kids get on the right path and accomplish their goal, whatever that is,” Donald said.