Latest news about ILB Ernest Jones status fuels fans fury over offseason plans

The LA Rams may have a growing roster challenge at their inside linebacker position in 2024. Unfortunately, it's a challenge of their own making.

There was never a warm and fuzzy feeling from Rams fans over the depth at the inside linebacker position as the team pivoted from 2023 to 2024. In fact, it was one of the positions that many fans expected the front office to address in the 2024 NFL Draft. While not the highest of priorities, almost everyone who followed the Rams at all recognized that the team was counting on the production and durability of starting inside linebacker Ernest Jones IV.

Perhaps the team is counting on that durability a bit too much.

While I won't go so far as to describe staring inside linebacker Ernest Jones IV as injury-prone, there is enough evidence in his short span of three NFL seasons to consider ensuring that the team has a viable Plan B in case he is unable to suit up for a game or a series of games in 2024.

In three previous seasons with the team, Jones has only held up for all 17 games in one year, 2022. It's no small coincidence that he was playing alongside veteran ILB Bobby Wagner that season. Due to his playing alongside Wagner, Jones played on just 723 defensive snaps in 2022, which was just 66 percent of the total defensive snaps for that season.

In 2023, he played 934 defensive snaps, despite sitting out two games. The thing is, the Rams defense needs a healthy Ernest Jones to play in every game to lead this young roster. And right now, the chances of getting 17 games out of the veteran linebacker seem to be dwindling.

The reason for dimming hopes for a full 17-game season out of Ernest Jones is due to the fact that a persistent knee injury that limited his participation in OTAs is back again. And that is certainly not good news for this defense:

The matter is even more complicated because the Rams first unofficial depth chart shows the team banking on veteran inside linebackers who have yet to have solid seasons for the team. That depth chart places Ernest Jones and ILB Christian Rozeboom as the team's starters, backed up by veterans Troy Reeder and Jake Hummel. Historically, Troy Reeder has struggled with being out of position to make plays on defense, while Jake Hummel has simply been ineffective.

The team added rookie ILB Omar Speight and Elias Neal to the roster after the 2024 NFL Draft, to join Olakunle Fatukasi as other options at the position. But with these three listed beneath the previously named veterans, there is not much hope of any drastic changes, short of incredible performances in preseason.

Fans questioned why the Rams front office did not select an inside linebacker in the draft. as there were many talented players on the board well into Day 3. But the team opted to invest selections elsewhere. While all fans were quite pleased with players added during the 2024 NFL Draft, they remain concerned about the lack of attention to the shallow depth at the inside linebacker position.

That shallow depth may come back to bite the team this season.

Of course, closely monitored load management could prove to be enough to navigate Ernest Jones nagging knee issues. But the team had the opportunity to do more, and elected not to do so. I am typically not a big fan of 20/20 hindsight. But in this case, I have to side with fans.

Rams fans have every right to be disappointed and even a bit miffed over the current situation at the inside linebacker position. And the team still has an opportunity to sign a veteran player who could deepen the roster at ILB before the season starts.

For now, fans must wait patiently and hope that all's well that ends well. It really does not appear that there is any other choice in the matter.

Thanks for reading.