{"id":242550,"date":"2025-07-28T11:15:25","date_gmt":"2025-07-28T11:15:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/242550\/"},"modified":"2025-07-28T11:15:25","modified_gmt":"2025-07-28T11:15:25","slug":"seattle-seahawks-lb-jones-feels-explosive-after-surgery","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/242550\/","title":{"rendered":"Seattle Seahawks LB Jones feels ‘explosive’ after surgery"},"content":{"rendered":"

After arriving in a midseason trade last October, linebacker Ernest Jones IV took over as the Seattle Seahawks\u2019 defensive signal caller and played a major role<\/a> in the defense\u2019s second-half turnaround.<\/p>\n

Macdonald has lofty praise for Seahawks DE DeMarcus Lawrence<\/a><\/p>\n

Prior to the trade, Seattle\u2019s defense ranked 19th in points allowed per game and 28th in rushing yards allowed per game. But shortly after Jones entered the fold, the unit took off. Over the final 10 weeks of the season, the Seahawks ranked fifth in points allowed per game and seventh in rushing yards allowed per game.<\/p>\n

At one point, Seattle head coach Mike Macdonald called Jones a \u201cforce multiplier\u201d for the way he was elevating those around him.<\/p>\n

And here\u2019s the kicker: Jones did all that despite playing through a nagging knee issue.<\/p>\n

Jones, who underwent cleanup knee surgery<\/a> this offseason, acknowledged that he wasn\u2019t 100% last year during a conversation with Seattle Sports\u2019 Wyman and Bob<\/a> on Wednesday.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was every day for the past two years I\u2019ve been dealing with that torn meniscus in that knee,\u201d Jones said. \u201cNever really got it cleaned out. \u2026 The knee was definitely bothering me, hindering me. There were some games where I couldn\u2019t play my best. But now I\u2019m excited about what Ernest Jones looks like (when) feeling good.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Seahawks are easing Jones back into action at training camp, but the 25-year-old said he already feels a big difference in his knee after the cleanup procedure.<\/p>\n

\u201cI feel a lot more explosive,\u201d Jones added. \u201cI can tell that I\u2019m not trying to baby the knee. I\u2019m actually putting it in the ground and going, so I\u2019m excited. They\u2019re phasing me back into things, \u2026 but I\u2019m feeling good.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

A newfound stability<\/p>\n

Jones\u2019 knee isn\u2019t the only reason he\u2019s feeling more comfortable these days.<\/p>\n

The 6-foot-2, 230-pound linebacker also has a newfound sense of stability after a whirlwind 2024 that saw him traded twice in the span of two months. He was dealt from the Los Angeles Rams to the Tennessee Titans on Aug. 27, and then traded again from the Titans to the Seahawks on Oct. 23.<\/p>\n

Jones doesn\u2019t have to worry about changing teams again this season. He signed a three-year contract, $33 million contract<\/a> with Seattle in March and figures to remain a key part of the Seahawks\u2019 defense for the foreseeable future.<\/p>\n

Jones also has the benefit of going through training camp with Seattle this year \u2013 instead of joining the team midway through the season and taking over a starting role just days later.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy heart\u2019s a little bit at ease,\u201d Jones said. \u201cI kind of can take my time getting everything that I need to get done. \u2026 I\u2019m excited about this year actually being here during training camp. Learning with these guys I think is going to be real helpful for us.\u201d<\/p>\n

The first pick as a Seahawk for @ernestjones53<\/a>. #ProBowlVote<\/a> + @ernestjones53<\/a> #ProBowlVote<\/a> + @ernestjones53<\/a> #ProBowlVote<\/a> + @ernestjones53<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/uK6W9aPOil<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Seattle Seahawks (@Seahawks) December 10, 2024<\/a><\/p>\n

And with nearly every key contributor returning from Seattle\u2019s 2024 year-end defense, Jones is excited about the group\u2019s potential.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a hard task for you to pick up where you left off, especially where we left off being one of the top defenses in the league,\u201d Jones said. \u201cBut I think what\u2019s different about this group is that\u2019s the challenge for us.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe know that we have the pieces in there. If we go out and perform to our ability, we know we can be the best defense in the league. And I think that\u2019s what we\u2019re going out here to try to work on each and every day.\u201d<\/p>\n

Listen to the full Wyman and Bob conversation with Ernest Jones IV at this link<\/a> or in the audio player near the middle of this story. Tune in to Wyman and Bob weekdays from 2 to 7 p.m. or find the podcast on the Seattle Sports app.<\/p>\n

More on the Seattle Seahawks<\/p>\n

\u2022\u00a0Stacy Rost: Seattle Seahawks have their most QB depth in a long time<\/a>
\u2022\u00a0News and notes from Day 1 of Seattle Seahawks training camp<\/a>
\u2022\u00a0Stacy Rost: Derick Hall a highlight for us at open of Seattle Seahawks camp<\/a>
\u2022\u00a0Macdonald: Nwosu \u2018not necessarily close\u2019 to returning for Seattle Seahawks<\/a>
\u2022 Huard: Why a Seattle Seahawks trade for star pass rusher seems unlikely<\/a><\/p>\n

Follow @CameronVanTil<\/a><\/p>\n

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