While watching the Rams and Bengals face off in Super Bowl LVI, Mike Macdonald noticed a rookie linebacker who got his attention.
Ernest Jones IV, then with the Rams, finished off a strong rookie season by recording seven tackles, two tackles for loss, a sack and one pass defensed in L.A.'s 23-20 win over the Cincinnati.
Almost three years later, Macdonald was recalling his introduction to Jones because the Seahawks just agreed to a trade to acquire the fourth-year linebacker in a trade with the Titans.
"(He made) plays in big-time situations," Macdonald said. "Any time you see a player you're not familiar with, you just look him up on your phone or whatever. Then it's kind of like in your brain, so now he's on crossover tape and, 'Oh, there he is again.' Just like everybody else, it's not just exclusive to him. Just being a fan of the game and good players, and seeing how guys play certain different schemes. The Rams defensive scheme marries a lot of our defensive coverages and stuff so you could see him doing some of the things we do as well."
Now, after being impressed by Jones' play several years ago, Macdonald will be coaching him following Wednesday's trade, which will send Jerome Baker and draft pick compensation to the Titans, pending physicals for both players.
"When you look at all fronts, coming from all fronts, John (Schneider) and our personnel people, our coaches, our experience with him, he's a guy I've had respect for for a long time," Macdonald said. "Just a really good football player, all the way around. I remember seeing him play in the Super Bowl, that was really the first time he got on my map, and I'm just excited to get him here and get him rolling."
Macdonald later added, when asked again about Jones, "By all accounts, great person, loves ball, tough as nails, and we're excited to get him here… He does a lot of things really well. You talk about making tackles, staying square at the point of attack, he's physical, he plays really hard. Also a good blitzer as well off the ball, coverage skills are pretty dang good as well, so just an overall really good football player."
The addition of Jones will likely mean a move from middle linebacker to weakside linebacker for Tyrel Dodson, with Jones playing middle linebacker, though Macdonald said Dodson will still wear the green dot helmet as the on-field defensive play caller who will relay calls from Macdonald.
"We'll probably put Ernest at Mike and have T-Dot play the weakside right now," Macdonald said.
Macdonald said Jones will arrive in Seattle late Wednesday, and the plan is for him to play Sunday, and noted Jones should be able to get up to speed quickly after playing in a similar defense in Tennessee, where the defensive coordinator is Dennard Wilson, who spent the 2023 season with Macdonald in Baltimore as the Ravens' defensive backs coach.
"I think it's pretty similar," Macdonald said. "Hopefully the language carries over a good bit, so the learning curve is flattened out… I'm pretty sure there's a lot of carryover."
The latest on DK Metcalf & other injuries.
The Seahawks don't know yet if receiver DK Metcalf, who left last weekend's game with an MCL sprain, will play this week, but Macdonald said it's unlikely that Metcalf will be able to practice until late in the week, at best.
"He's not going to practice today, probably won't practice tomorrow," he said. "Right now, we'll see on Friday, kind of reevaluate as we go."
Asked if Metcalf needs to practice during the week in order to play Sunday, Macdonald said, "I think you'd like to see him out there at some point, but I think DK is a guy we'd be comfortable taking him all the way to the game."
As for cornerbacks Riq Woolen and Tre Brown, who missed Sunday's game with ankle injuries, Macdonald said Woolen was expected to be able to practice Wednesday, while Brown will not, calling his situation "day-by-day."
Macdonald was also asked about cornerback Artie Burns, who went on injured reserve last week with a toe injury, and said, "Yeah, I think there's a chance we'll get him back. We'll see."
Tackle reinforcements incoming.
The Seahawks were thin at tackle last week, with starters Charles Cross and Michael Jerrell the only two healthy tackles on the roster who were dressed for the game—though backup center Jalen Sundell played tackle last year at North Dakota State—and Stone Forsythe, who missed Sunday's game with a hand injury, was placed on injured reserve Wednesday. But the Seahawks got some good news Wednesday when it comes to that position group, with Abraham Lucas and George Fant both returning to practice.
For Lucas, it will be his first practice since last season, having opened the year on the non-football injury list after having knee surgery this offseason. Fant, who started the season opener in Lucas' place, has been on injured reserve since injuring his knee in that Week 1 win.
"I was joking with Abe, these are shoulder pads," Macdonald said. "Be good to see him out there. Get a new teammate out there. If you take a step back with Abe, all the stuff he's been through over the last year, this guy has been working his tail off and it's not easy to be doing your own thing and training and strengthening a leg. This is a long grind back to where we sit today. I think he deserves a lot of credit to put himself in the situation to come back at this point in time. Should be really exciting to have him out there and doing his thing. We are going to ramp into it and be as smart as we can. I think we have a really good plan. Happy for him and excited to see him out there with the rest of the guys. George, and obviously when you get guys back in practice, be great to have him back as well."
With Lucas in particular, the Seahawks will take their time getting him back to game action, with the Week 10 game at San Francisco after the bye as a potential target.
"I think we are shooting for after the bye in terms of what's the smartest thing for him and the rest of the guys," Macdonald said.
The Seahawks agreed to terms with the Tennessee Titans to acquire linebacker Ernest Jones IV on October 23, 2024. Check out some of the best photos of Jones through the years.
Tennessee wide receiver Jauan Jennings (15) runs for yardage as he's chased by South Carolina linebacker Ernest Jones (53) and defensive back Israel Mukuamu (24) in the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Oct. 26, 2019, in Knoxville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Wade Payne)
Vanderbilt running back Ke'Shawn Vaughn (5) carries the ball against South Carolina linebacker Ernest Jones (53) during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 2, 2019, in Columbia, S.C. (AP Photo/Sean Rayford)
South Carolina linebacker Ernest Jones covers a play against Florida during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Oct. 3, 2020, in Gainesville, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
Florida running back Dameon Pierce (27) looks for a way past South Carolina linebacker Ernest Jones (53) during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Oct. 3, 2020, in Gainesville, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
Vanderbilt quarterback Ken Seals (8) is tackled by South Carolina linebacker Ernest Jones (53) during their game, Saturday, Oct. 10, 2020, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Wade Payne)
South Carolina linebacker Ernest Jones plays against Vanderbilt in the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 10, 2020, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
Los Angeles Rams linebacker Ernest Jones (50) in coverage during an NFL preseason NFL football game against the Los Angeles Chargers, Saturday, Aug. 14, 2021, in Inglewood, Calif. (Ben Liebenberg via AP)
Los Angeles Rams linebacker Ernest Jones (50) looks into the offensive backfield during an NFL football game against the Indianapolis Colts, Sunday, Sept. 19, 2021, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Zach Bolinger)
Los Angeles Rams linebacker Ernest Jones (50) on kickoff coverage during an NFL Professional Football Game Sunday, Oct. 24, 2021, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/John McCoy)
Linebacker (50) Ernest Jones of the Los Angeles Rams makes a tackle against the Houston Texans in an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 31, 2021, in Houston, Texas. Rams won 38-22. (AP Photo/Jeff Lewis)
Los Angeles Rams linebacker Ernest Jones (50) celebrates an interception with teammates during the first half of an NFL football game against the Houston Texans, Sunday, Oct. 31, 2021, in Houston. (AP Photo/Justin Rex )
Los Angeles Rams linebacker Ernest Jones (50) during an NFL football game against the Tennessee Titans, Sunday, Nov. 7, 2021 in Inglewood, Calif. The Titans defeated the Rams 28-16. (John McGillen via AP)
Los Angeles Rams linebackers Troy Reeder (51) and Ernest Jones (50) celebrate during an NFL football game against the Tennessee Titans, Sunday, Nov. 7, 2021 in Inglewood, Calif. The Titans defeated the Rams 28-16. (John McGillen via AP)
Los Angeles Rams inside linebacker Ernest Jones (50) reacts after a defensive stop during the first half of an NFL football game against the Jacksonville Jaguars Sunday, Dec. 5, 2021, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Los Angeles Rams inside linebacker Ernest Jones (50) stops Minnesota Vikings running back Alexander Mattison (25) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 26, 2021 in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Stacy Bengs)
Los Angeles Rams inside linebacker Ernest Jones (50) reacts after a defensive play against the Cincinnati Bengals during the first half of the NFL Super Bowl 56 football game Sunday, Feb. 13, 2022, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
Los Angeles Rams inside linebacker Ernest Jones (50) celebrates his sack against the Cincinnati Bengals during the second half of the NFL Super Bowl 56 football game Sunday, Feb. 13, 2022, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) is tackled by Los Angeles Rams linebacker Ernest Jones (53) during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Nov. 27, 2022, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
Los Angeles Rams linebacker Ernest Jones (53) makes an interception in the end zone during the first half of an NFL football game against the Las Vegas Raiders, Thursday, Dec. 8, 2022, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
Los Angeles Rams linebacker Ernest Jones (53) reacts during the second half of an NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks, Sunday, Sept. 10, 2023, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
Los Angeles Rams linebacker Ernest Jones, left, tackles San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Deebo Samuel during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 17, 2023, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Los Angeles Rams linebacker Ernest Jones (53) chases Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Rondale Moore (4) during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Oct. 15, 2023, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Seattle Seahawks running back Zach Charbonnet (26) runs the ball as Los Angeles Rams linebacker Ernest Jones (53) and cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon (44) chase during the second half of an NFL football Sunday, Nov. 19, 2023, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Los Angeles Rams linebacker Ernest Jones (53) reacts during an NFL football game against the Cleveland Browns, Sunday, Dec. 3, 2023, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Kyusung Gong)
Los Angeles Rams linebacker Ernest Jones (53) reacts during an NFL football game against the Washington Commanders on Sunday, December 17, 2023 in Inglewood, Calif. (Ben Liebenberg via AP)
New York Giants quarterback Tyrod Taylor (2) looks to pass on the run against Los Angeles Rams linebacker Ernest Jones (53) during the first half an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 31, 2023, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs (26) rushes against Los Angeles Rams linebacker Ernest Jones (53) during the first half of an NFL wild-card playoff football game Sunday, Jan. 14, 2024 in Detroit. (AP Photo/Duane Burleson)
Tennessee Titans linebacker Ernest Jones IV (53) defends against Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams (18) during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 8, 2024, in Chicago. The Bears defeated the Titans 24-17. (AP Photo/Kamil Krzaczynski)
Tennessee Titans linebacker Ernest Jones IV (53) takes the field before an NFL football game against the New York Jets, Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
Tennessee Titans linebacker Ernest Jones IV (53) tackles New York Jets wide receiver Malachi Corley (17) in the first half of an NFL football game in Nashville, Tenn., on Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
Tennessee Titans linebacker Ernest Jones IV (53) grabs Miami Dolphins running back Jaylen Wright (25) during the second half of an NFL football game, Monday, Sept. 30, 2024, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Brennan Asplen)
Tennessee Titans linebacker Ernest Jones, IV (53) defends during the first half of an NFL football game against the Indianapolis Colts, Sunday, Oct. 13, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Stew Milne)
