LOS ANGELES (AP) — Los Angeles Rams linebacker Ernest Jones did not practice Monday after being given permission to seek a trade.
Jones took to social media on Sunday to clarify that he never requested a trade, posting on X before deleting it. Coach Sean McVay confirmed Jones’ statement and said discussions with both the player’s agent and other teams are ongoing.
“You know, I think these are conversations sometimes, you know, things get out there. But in his defense, he’s right, he never requested a trade,” McVay said. “We had communication with his representation, there’s been some dialog with teams, and that’s kind of where it’s at.”
Jones is going into the final year of his rookie contract, having started 26 games over the past two seasons. A third-round draft pick out of South Carolina in 2021, Jones has established himself as a team captain and the defensive play-caller on the field, but at a position where the Rams have usually not committed significant money since McVay took over in 2017.
“But these are parts of the profession, and they’re not fun parts but they are real parts that you have to acknowledge,” he said. “And Ernest is a pro in every sense of the word, and so we’re just kind of dealing with it a day at a time.”
McVay said he hopes to have a better sense of the situation as soon as possible.
“There’s a lot of discussions that are ongoing right now,” he said. “I think there’s always a little bit increased urgency around the league, not exclusive to just this situation, with just the possible movement that can occur here. And so I’m sure the next time that I talk to you I’ll have a little bit more clarity, but we are working through those things, and there’s changes by the minute potentially.”
If the Rams move on from the 24-year-old Jones, other options on the roster to man the two inside linebacker spots would include Troy Reeder, Christian Rozeboom, Jacob Hummel, and rookie Omar Speights.
Rozeboom, who is going into his fourth season with the Rams after starting his career as an undrafted free agent with Kansas City in 2021, said he hopes for the best for Jones.
“Whatever happens, it was a privilege to play with him,” Rozeboom said. “It always hurts. I know it hurts for everybody, but like I said, it’s a part of this.”
The uncertainty with Jones wasn’t the only sudden development for the Rams over the weekend, with left tackle Alaric Jackson receiving a two-game suspension for violating the NFL’s personal conduct policy on Friday.
“It was something that we potentially thought could occur,” said McVay, who did not discuss the specifics of what led to Jackson’s suspension.
NOTES: WR Puka Nacua (knee) and CB Darious Williams (hamstring) each returned to practice. … QB Stetson Bennett was not with the team Monday to attend to a personal matter.
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