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With Aaron Donald gone, the Rams are counting on Ernest Jones IV (53) to lead a young defense that includes Michael Hecht (left) and Kobe Turner. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
The Rams convened Monday for the first day of voluntary offseason workouts and, as has been the case for most of the last few years, Aaron Donald was not present.
As coach Sean McVay and his team begin preparing for the 2024 season, however, they know the recently retired Donald will not return from training in hometown Pittsburgh to be the leader of the defense.
That mantle now belongs to linebacker Ernest Jones IV.
And Jones, a three-year veteran, said he was prepared.
“From the moment I got here, this was a goal of mine, to be the leader of this defense,” Jones said Monday during a news conference in Thousand Oaks. “With [Donald] being gone, now there’s more eyes on me, which I can sure handle. … Without A.D., we get to go out there, and now it’s time for those guys to make a name for themselves.”
The Rams selected Jones in the third round of the 2021 draft. He became a starter midway through his rookie season and helped the Rams win Super Bowl LVI.
Read more: Will Rams keep or trade first Round 1 pick since 2016? GM Les Snead has been picky
Last season Jones made a team-best 145 tackles, including 4½ sacks, as the Rams exceeded expectations, finished 10-7 and made the playoffs.
As a cornerstone young player entering his fourth season, Jones appeared poised for a contract extension.
Although not ruling out the possibility that an extension could get done, Rams general manager Les Snead indicated the team wants Jones to play out the final year of his contract — despite knowing the price could be higher next spring.
“There’s always risk if a player plays well and goes to the market,” Snead said last month at the NFL owners’ annual meeting. “We felt like that it was better for us to use current resources on making additions to the current team.”
Jones did not sound…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/rams-want-ernest-jones-iv-233634499.html
Author : LA Times
Publish date : 2024-04-15 23:36:34
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