Ernest

Jones

Lawrence and LB Ernest Jones (shoulder) are good to go. The Seahawks’ defense will be without LB Derick Hall (oblique). S Julian Love (hamstring), CB Devon Witherspoon (knee) and CB Riq Woolen (concussion) are listed as doubtful to play in Week 6 against the Jaguars. All three defensive backs were limited on Friday. Jaguars WRs Brian Thomas Jr. and Travis Hunter have high ceilings in this one.

Witherspoon missed Week 5 with his knee injury. The Seahawks were also missing S Julian Love (hamstring), LB Derick Hall (oblique), LB Ernest Jones (shoulder), EDGE Demarcus Lawrence (quad) on the defensive side of the ball. If they cannot practice the rest of the week, the Jaguars offense will have an easier matchup in Week 6.

NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports Jones’ contract includes $15 million guaranteed. Traded twice last season, Jones finally found a home with the Seahawks, starting 10 games in Seattle last season. The Seahawks defense improved from Weeks 9-18 when he arrived, jumping to fifth in EPA per play during that stretch after ranking outside the top 20 prior to Week 9. Jones underwent offseason knee surgery to clean up knee issues and is now set to return for the middle of Mike Macdonald’s defense.

Jones reportedly had surgery to clean up knee issues he was having last season. He is a pending free agent that the Seahawks have interest in re-signing, but physicals post-surgery may slow down Jones’ free agency process. The 25-year-old tallied 138 combined tackles, four tackles for loss, four passes defended and an interception playing for the Titans and Seahawks last season. Jones became a key starter at linebacker down the stretch, and Seattle may not want to let him leave by the time free agency rolls around.

It was a busy 2024 for Jones, who was traded from the Rams to the Titans before the start of the 2024 season and later traded to the Seahawks just weeks before the trade deadline. The former third-round pick quickly turned into a pivotal player for the Seahawks’ defense, who ranked fifth in EPA per play and sixth in success rate allowed in Weeks 9-18. They were outside of the top 20 in both categories for the first eight weeks of the season. Now set to hit free agency, Jones will have a chance to test the market if he and the Seahawks can’t reach a deal before the start of the new league year. During his end-of-season meeting with the media, Jones said of his impending free agency, “I’m going to be a Seahawk. I firmly believe that.” Seahawks GM John Schneider said “Obviously we want Ernest back,” on a Friday radio hit.

Jones was traded to the Titans last week and is understandably still getting up to speed on things. It doesn’t sound like Callahan will look to force Jones into anything he’s not prepared for, saying his role could expand as he learned more of the defense. Jones tallied 145 tackles, 14 TFLs, and 4.5 sacks with the Rams last season and will be relied on heavily in a revamped Titans defense.

The veteran linebacker is now on his way to Tennessee just days after it was reported that the Rams granted Jones permission to seek a trade. Jones has played in 47 career games since being drafted by the Rams in the third round of the 2021 NFL Draft. He’s totaled 100-plus tackles in each of his last two seasons and tallied a career-high 4.5 sacks last season while also racking up 14 TFLs and breaking up six passes. Jones is in the final year of his rookie contract and is seeking a new deal, which played a role in his seeking a trade. It’s possible the Titans will ink Jones to a new deal in the coming days as they continue to revamp their defense in their first year under head coach Brian Callahan. In addition to Jones, the Titans also received a 2026 sixth-round pick in the exchange.

McVay’s comments don’t give us much to go on at this time, but it sounds like the Rams are still working through things with their star linebacker. It was reported on Sunday that the Rams granted Jones permission to seek a trade as he reportedly seeks a new contract. Jones wasn’t seen at practice on Monday, but it doesn’t sound like a parting between the two sides is imminent at this time. This won’t be the last we hear about this situation.

Jones totaled 145 tackles and 4.5 sacks last season and has been a staple on the defense since being drafted in the third round back in 2021. According to Fowler, Jones and the Rams have discussed an extension, but neither side has made any real progress. It’s possible this is more about the Rams wanting other teams to do their bidding for Jones before they swoop in and make him an offer to keep him in town for the long term, but time will tell. Set to turn 25 in November, Jones is a good, young defender who would make any defense he joins better, as long as the price is right.

Jones was sent to injured reserve after picking up an ankle injury in Week 16, but there was always hope he could make it back during the playoffs. The third-round rookie might not return to his starting role, but he should provide some rotational snaps in the NFC Championship.