Coming off a standout 2023 season in which he recorded a franchise record 145 tackles, as well as 14 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks, Ernest Jones IV figured he was part the Rams' future, a young leader for a defense that was transitioning into life after Aaron Donald.

Instead, the Rams surprised Jones and most of the rest of the NFL world by trading him to the Tennessee Titans. The Titans, in turn, traded Jones to the Seahawks last week after winning just one of their first six games prior to the trade. That means that when Seattle hosts the Rams on Sunday, Jones' second game as a Seahawk will come against the team that drafted him and saw him develop into a starting linebacker and key piece of their defense over the past two seasons.

"I was definitely surprised," Jones said Thursday. "Yeah, surprised, the word I used definitely was shocked about the decisions that they made, but they taught me a lot in that process. Taught me a lot about the business, you're never secure, no matter what you've done. So that's kind of what I've learned in that position."

Seeing his former team this week is less about payback, however, and more about a chance to improve as he gets used to a new team, and hopefully help the Seahawks get back on track after a lopsided loss last weekend.

"I'm excited," Jones said. "Excited for the opportunity. For me, I wouldn't say it's just something that I've just been thinking about. I mean, it's another opportunity. I won't go out there and put myself in a position where I'm taking myself outside the guidelines of what we're trying to do and ultimately it's get a win. With it being a former team, of course, I would like to win, but I want to go out there and execute and play well."

Asked if he's the trash-talking type, Jones said, "I used to. At this point in my career, I'm like, 'Let me just let my play do the talking.' I'll probably say a few things to those guys, but they're all my guys, man. I love each and every guy in that building, in that locker room, man. And before the football thing, we developed great relationships, so at the end of the day, they're still my friends, but on Sunday, it won't be so nice."

The two trades meant Jones, his wife, Tyra, and their newborn son, Ernest Jones V, moved from L.A. to Nashville in August, then back west to Seattle last week, all before the youngest Jones turned four months old.

"Hell, these last three months have been crazy," he said. "I mean, we have a three-month-old, got traded, and got traded again. It's been crazy. Honestly, though it's been fun. Me and my wife have grown a lot closer through these hardships. We've always been close, but this has helped us learn that no matter what, we have each other's back. She's always riding for me. I've been having to learn a lot of new defenses and the nuances of both teams. Even though Tennessee and here they kind of run similar stuff. It's still a little different. So it's been a whirlwind."

And though the last few months have not gone at all how Jones would have pictured coming off of last season, he can confidently say now that he is better for all that has transpired, and that he has a great support system around him.

"(I've learned) that I'm a tough son of a gun, mentally, man," he said. "I have a great support system. A lot of guys wouldn't be able to sit here and have a smile or go through their day-to-day. A lot of guys would've let getting traded and that pressure get to them. But for me, I mean, my support system's been great and mentally I know that I'm capable of doing a lot, so I've learned that about myself."

From a Seahawks perspective, this game is less about Jones facing his former team and more a chance to see how he can grow in just his second week with the team. Last week, Jones arrived in Seattle late Wednesday night, practiced Thursday and Friday, then played every defensive snap against the Bills, matching a career-high with 15 tackles. It was an impressive effort all the way around, from getting ready for the game to how he performed on Sunday, but both Jones and his coaches are expecting more this time around.

"I think our coaches deserve a lot of credit, T-Dot (Tyrel Dodson) deserves a lot of credit, but Ernest obviously gets the most out of all that," Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald said of Jones' performance just days after the trade. "This guy's a stud. We will fit some things a little bit differently now that he kind of knows how we play stuff. But he's a fun guy to be around talking football and working through things and we're really excited that he's here and expect him to make another jump this week."

Said defensive tackle Jarran Reed, "Ernest is a dog. I already knew he was a dog from playing him in L.A. When we got him, I was really excited. He's got one game up out there. I'm pretty sure we can see more football from him. He didn't miss a tackle. He was there to stop a lot of plays that could have broken out for huge gains, so that was good for him. I'm excited to see what his future holds."

Jones expects the game will slow down for him this week after having to do a lot of learning on the fly in his first game with the Seahawks.

"I feel like I'd be able to play a lot calmer, not trying to sit there and piece things together as moving bullets are happening," he said. "I'm going to feel a lot more secure in knowing the job. The coaches have done a great job in getting me prepared, so I'm excited to be able to go out there and play faster this week."