On his first full day as a Seahawk on Oct. 24, linebacker Ernest Jones IV said he hoped he’d found his new, permanent NFL home.
“I’m going to do whatever I can to be on this team for the long haul if that’s where they see me fitting in,’’ he said then. “From there, we work out everything else.”
The two months since have only strengthened that hope, Jones said Wednesday.
Jones, who was acquired from Tennessee for linebacker Jerome Baker and a 2025 fourth-round pick, can be a free agent when the new league year begins in March.
But as he has several other times, Jones said on Wednesday that he’s hoping to work out something to stay in Seattle and is optimistic that he will.
“Everything is going that way,’’ Jones said. “Coaches like me; I love it here. I would love to be here. As far as (an) extension or free agency, I’m just letting my agent handle it, letting the organization handle it, and hopefully we get something done so I can be around.’’
The feeling is mutual.
Jones’ addition and insertion as the middle linebacker — and as the wearer of the green-dot helmet who receives the play calls from coach Mike Macdonald and relays them to the rest of the defense — fueled a turnaround by Seattle’s defense that sparked a four-game winning streak and got the Seahawks back into legitimate playoff contention.
Those hopes ended with the losses to Green Bay and Minnesota, allowing the Rams to clinch the NFC West over the weekend.
But the disappointment of the way the season ended hasn’t changed Macdonald’s enthusiasm about Jones and what he meant to the defense.
“How do you not love the guy?’’ Macdonald said recently.
“Any time you’re bringing someone to your team, you’re looking forward to building a relationship with him. He doesn’t mind me talking in his helmet a lot, so that’s nice. I can’t control myself on that. But yeah, I just love the person, love the competitor, tough as crap, loves ball. How do you not love guys like that?”
Jones would also love not moving again.
He said he’s finally feeling settled in Seattle after it took a month or so to get a place for his wife and newborn son (Ernest Jones V).
Jones began the season entering his fourth year with the Rams, with whom he won a Super Bowl as a rookie in 2021.
Entering the final season of his rookie deal — a typical time for players to receive contract extensions — he was hoping to get a new contract to solidify his future in L.A.
But it never came.
“There was nothing going on,’’ he said recently. “We talked one time about the contract and that was it. There wasn’t any money or numbers thrown out.’’
The Rams then apparently decided they didn’t want the specter of a potentially unhappy Jones on their hands, or simply figured they’d get something for him instead of potentially seeing him walk as a free agent, and traded him to Tennessee before the season.
With Rams coach Sean McVay leaving the reasoning for the trade somewhat vague, speculation has inevitably arisen from others.
One view is that the Rams simply don’t place a huge value on the inside linebacker position.
Jones a few weeks ago said “I have no clue’’ why he got traded by the Rams but acknowledged that positional value could have been a factor.
“Yeah, it’s been in the past where they just don’t value that position as much (as) other teams do,’’ Jones said. “It’s been like that before me, and they didn’t make no changes when I got there.’’
Tennessee appeared to be in rebuilding mode when it acquired Jones and moved more fully into that territory when the Titans started 1-5. That led the Titans to unload a few veterans, including receiver DeAndre Hopkins and Jones.
Still, Jones — who didn’t turn 25 until Nov. 22 — says experiencing the harsh realities of the business proved tougher on his psyche than he might have let on at the time.
“This thing got rough for me,’’ Jones said. “I was in a lot of dark moments.
“ … It was the toughest moment of my life. It’s kind of hard to put in words now thinking back on it. You are out of it a little bit. (My) family is settled now, and you know you’ll be here at least until the end of the season. You’re settled now. But it was tough, man. There were moments you were thinking if football was still what you were going to do — was it still the thing you thought was your purpose for this earth, this world? So it was tough.’’
Jones said he isn’t questioning if football is his future now. And for that, he credits the Seahawks.
“This team, they brought me out of it,’’ he said. “ … I got here, I fit right in with all the guys. The guys just love having fun playing football, and I love going out there and playing with them.
“ … So I’m thankful to be here. Didn’t want to get traded twice, but glad I ended up here.’’
But before he potentially becomes a Seahawk for the long haul, there’s one last bit of business to take care of Sunday — again playing the team that traded him the first time this season, the Rams. Only this time in Los Angeles.
Jones downplayed that reunion, having already gotten a lot of that out of his system when Seattle played L.A. on Nov. 3, a 26-20 Rams win that ultimately turned the NFC West their way.
“To be honest with you, like that stuff is far beyond me,’’ he said of returning to L.A. “I wish (the game) was for something (at stake), but like I said, I’m going to go out there, play this last game with this group of guys who welcomed me in so graciously. I’m just thankful to have the opportunity to go out there and play again.
Macdonald reiterates that starters will play
With nothing on the line, the Rams will go with backup Jimmy Garoppolo instead of Matthew Stafford at quarterback, with Stetson Bennett as the backup.
Macdonald, though, repeated what he said Monday, that the team’s starters will play and he plans to approach it as a “normal’’ game.
Asked specifically if Sam Howell might play some at quarterback, Macdonald said, “That’s not the plan.’’ Of the game, he said “focus is on really closing the year out the right way and starting this year the right way, too.’’
Injury report light
Seattle doesn’t have a lot of injury questions entering the game. The main one is cornerback Josh Jobe, who suffered a knee injury against Chicago. It’s not considered serious, but Jobe sat out Wednesday.
Also out Wednesday were tight end Brady Russell (foot), tackle Abe Lucas (abdomen/knee), defensive end Leonard Williams (foot/rest) and nose tackle Jarran Reed (rest).
Limited were receiver Tyler Lockett (rest), guard Laken Tomlinson (ankle), Jones (knee) and defensive end Byron Murphy II (back). Everyone else on the 53-man roster was a full participant.
