LOS ANGELES — It was one of those days that makes summer along the LA coast special. To make matters even better football was being played as the Los Angeles Rams kicked off their training camp at Loyola Marymount University, nestled between the idyllic Marina Del Rey and the chaotic Los Angeles International Airport.
Earlier this spring Rams starting linebacker Ernest Jones missed practice time due to an injury.
“He’s had a little issue with his knee, but we expect him – he’s making good progress,” Sean McVay said. “With the offseason winding down, the goal is to be ready to go and feel good for training camp.”
But today, Jones was a full go.
“Guys love him. I mean, when you’re around Ernest, there’s just this magnetism and charisma that he has,” McVay told The Athletic’s Jourdan Rodrigue during the post-practice press conference, “he made a couple of plays out here, and it was really good to be able to see 53 out there leading the way today.”
Ernest Jones Makes His Presence Known On Day 1 Of Los Angeles Rams Training Camp
Ernest Jones made one of the biggest plays of the day, in fact. On a passing play, Matthew Stafford was under pressure from the pass rush, the pocket collapsed, forcing Stafford to step up in the pocket when he fired a laser over the middle of the field. Jones read the play perfectly which led to a leaping interception. This elicited the largest cheer of the day from the defensive sideline.
Ernest Jones’ Stock Rising
Jones is in the final year of his rookie contract. The club has expressed interest in extending him beyond this year, but little has been made public about where the two parties are in the negotiations. If the deal is done Jones will be in rarified air in the Rams house — he would be the first player extended beyond his rookie contract since Joseph Noteboom and Brian Allen. Cooper Kupp, Tyler Higbee, and Rob Havenstein are the only others still on the team with that designation.
While having been a starter since part way through his rookie year, Jones only rose to prominence last season. When the Rams were struggling to produce consistent pressure on quarterbacks, they tweaked his role to include blitzing. Another role he excelled in.
Jones has been used as a blitzed 91 times in his career, 58 came just last year. Of his 19 career QB pressures, 13 of them came in 2023. He not only led the team in tackles, but he also had the fewest missed tackles on the team.
