The Los Angeles Rams surprised a lot of observers just before the start of the season when they traded linebacker Ernest Jones to the Tennessee Titans for a modest return. Now, as the Rams prepare to face Jones in Week 9, coach Sean McVay seemed willing to consider whether that move was a mistake.
McVay had a lot of praise for Jones when he spoke to the media on Wednesday ahead of their game against the Seattle Seahawks, who acquired Jones in a trade last week. McVay added that the Rams liked Jones, but made what they felt at the time was the best decision.
“It’d be hard to deny the production that he’s had, when you look at what he’s done at Tennessee and even just in his first week (with Seattle) last week,” McVay said of Jones, via Greg Beacham of The Associated Press. “He’s a great player, and he did a lot of good things for us. I think all the decisions that we make in the moment, we feel like are in the best interest. I’m not going to pretend to act like every decision is accurate, and you try to be able to learn from it and apply it moving forward.”
Sean McVay gave an interesting answer when asked how trading LB Ernest Jones, his leading tackler and defensive signal-caller, shortly before the regular season has worked out for the Rams: pic.twitter.com/lcP0yGNBtz
— Greg Beacham (@gregbeacham) October 30, 2024
It certainly sounds like McVay is conceding the decision to trade Jones has not worked out that well. The Rams have not received the same production from their linebackers after moving Jones, and the situation got worse when linebacker Troy Reeder landed on injured reserve last week. On the other hand, the Titans moved Jones as well, so it is not just the Rams that have decided to trade him this year.
Jones has 59 total tackles in seven games so far this season. Reports at the time suggested the Rams might have moved him over an impasse in contract talks, as Jones remains in the final season of his rookie deal.
